The veil between worlds closed with a soft hum behind them. The Mirror Realm faded, leaving only the familiar weight of night air and the scents of pine and earth in its place. Aria clutched Caleb's hand tightly as they stepped onto the Circle's sacred grounds—changed, marked by truths not even the stars dared whisper.
The others greeted them with tentative relief. Rowan's brow furrowed, watching Caleb closely, as if sensing something beyond what words could capture. Solene stood silently, eyes glowing faintly as though calculating futures yet to be decided.
But it was Caleb Aria couldn't stop watching.
He was quiet—too quiet. Since the Mirror Realm, his gaze had grown distant, his silences deeper. The fire that had once sparked in his voice now flickered like a candle caught in wind. Yet his hand never left hers, not even as the council asked questions, not even as Solene pressed her fingers to his temple to check for lingering shadow traces.
