Panicked cries and whispers washed through the crowd as they rose—all but the few who had drawn visions, who lay where they had collapsed. Aerion rose, turning toward me with a dazed expression. The last vestiges of starlight faded from his eyes, and he blinked slowly, as if waking from a dream.
His vision sharpened, and he focused on me, a look of profound awe on his face. He stared at me for a long moment, and then a slow smile spread across his lips. He looked back at the crowd and straightened, raising his arms for quiet. The crowd was silent, though many cast me nervous looks as he began to speak.
