The nine melted crystals entered Eleanor's heart one by one, or at least that was how it felt. They were like nine supernovas of conflicting power, each bearing its own will and demanding absolute primacy. They clashed violently within her heart. She struggled to control and contain them, but it was as though each sought to forcibly expel the others and claim her heart for itself. The resulting pain was excruciating.
As they fought, some of the energy seeped out into her veins, and surprisingly, it merged without conflict. It was as if that energy had been stripped of its will, unlike the raging forces within her heart. Even so, it was immensely potent. The walls of her veins tore apart to make space for it. Fortunately, the damage was repaired almost instantly, her veins reconstructing themselves the moment they ruptured. Though she could not see it, she could feel new pathways forming within her body.
