The room had quieted after Parker and Zhang Ruoyun vanished in a swirl of divine presence, their forms dissolving into shadow and flame like prayers made visible. Silence settled—not the awkward kind that pressed against your throat, but the peaceful sort that felt like a fire dimming into embers, warm and safe and complete.
Outside, the sky was lavender—brushed with the last dying streaks of a sun that had painted the world in gold before surrendering to twilight. The balcony lights shimmered on with the soft whisper of activated magic, casting gentle halos over the marble floor that made everything look touched by starlight.
Tessa had drifted to the edge of the balcony without quite realizing it, her hand resting lightly on her stomach.
Not visibly showing yet—but already glowing with something more than power. Something quieter. Older. Something that felt like the universe itself had decided to take root inside her and grow into tomorrow.
