(Iris Pov)
Within the tranquil expanse of the Astral Plane, water shimmered beneath Iris's bare feet as if the realm itself held its breath.
Naelith, the spectral dragon of mist and memory, hovered nearby, silent and still.
She had not shown herself since her first explanation of the trial. She wanted to watch, and to guide Iris as she completed the trial.
She watch on as a low pulse echoed through Iris's chest.
The Dragon Heart.
It surged with each beat, now 99% full—so close to its final state, yet just far enough to taunt her.
Today, she would finish it.
"I can do this," she whispered to herself, but the words felt small against the pressure building inside her chest.
She inhaled deeply, the coolness of the water filling her lungs. Sweat clung to her skin, a sign of the intense strain her body had endured.
Each breath now carried the weight of every failed attempt and every small victory. The pressure in her chest—the pressure to finish—was almost unbearable.
