SERAPHINA’S POV
The last shard gleamed faintly in the fog like it had been waiting for us all along.
My fingers brushed the rough, moonlit stone as I pulled it free from the root where it was wedged.
A tremor passed through me—not from the effort, but from what it meant.
We had done it.
The final advancement slot was ours!
For a heartbeat, none of us spoke. There was just the sound of our ragged breathing, the hiss of mist curling low around our boots, and the glow of the shard’s faint shimmer in my palm.
Then Judy laughed—loud, fierce, joyous. She grabbed my arm, shaking me so hard the shard nearly slipped from my fingers.
“We did it! We actually did it!”
Finn exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for hours, his shoulders easing at last.
Even Talia let out a little squeak, covering her mouth as though laughter might be too indulgent—then giggling anyway.
