The first light of dawn filtered through the shattered windows of the fortress. The battlefield lay quiet, strewn with remnants of a war that felt like a lifetime ago.
Nkosana stood amidst the ruins, his gaze distant yet sharp. The power within him pulsed softly — no longer a curse, but a reminder of everything they had fought for.
Lira approached, wiping blood from her cheek but smiling with fierce pride. "We did it. The Veilborn are gone."
Kaede nodded, already scanning maps and planning the next steps. "But the world outside won't wait. Others will hear of this power. They'll come."
Matsu's voice floated down from the tower, calm but firm. "We've turned a page, but the story isn't finished. The true test begins now."
Nkosana clenched his fists, the mark on his neck glowing faintly under his skin. "Then we prepare. For whatever comes next."
The sun rose higher, casting light over the horizon — a new day, a new destiny.
---