A faint crack like thin glass breaking far in the distance echoed through the temple as the last threads of faith were absorbed into Sylvia and Sofia's bodies. The radiance that had once filled the chamber spinning, pulsing, resonating like an ancient heart slowly dimmed until only shifting shadows remained on the walls.
Then…
Silence.
A long, heavy silence, as though the realm of the gods inhaled and no longer knew whether to exhale or hold its breath forever.
In the center of the altar chamber, Sylvia stood with an unreadable expression. Her Death Aura drifted softly around her, not threatening… but filling. Strengthening. Refining.
Beside her, Sofia pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the newly absorbed faith of life flowing into her like sunlight warming wet earth after a long rain. Her breath trembled faintly not from weakness, but from the sheer purity of it, like too much light for a single vessel to hold.
