The shadows gathered first.
They slid inward across the sand and broken stone, stretching toward Noel as if drawn by gravity rather than will. The air cooled, the shoreline dimming as the light bent around him. It wasn't sudden or violent. It felt more like the tide pulling back before a wave.
"We need to stay connected," Noel said calmly. "That's how this works."
He extended one hand toward Elyra and the other toward Elena. Elyra took his hand without hesitation, her grip steady and grounded. Elena followed a heartbeat later, fingers curling tightly around his as if she were anchoring herself to something solid.
Laziel looked at the three of them, then frowned. "And me?"
"Grab my shoulder," Noel replied.
Laziel did exactly that, his hand resting awkwardly against Noel's coat. He hesitated, then leaned closer. "Be honest. Have you ever tried something like this before?"
"No," Noel answered. "And I'm hoping nothing goes wrong."
The pause that followed was heavy.
