The city walls shuddered under the relentless assault. Every roar from the abyssal beasts was met with the clang of steel and the hiss of burning wards, but the defenders were tiring.
Liora knew the truth—holding the walls wouldn't matter if Kaelen's will remained unbroken. The war wasn't about numbers. It was about him.
She descended from the battlements, her boots echoing through the stone corridors beneath the city. Torches flickered wildly as if protesting the path she had chosen. In the war room, she spread a map of the Rift on the table, tracing the winding path that led to the cathedral deep within.
"You're not seriously thinking of going in there alone," Captain Eryndor said, stepping into the room. His voice carried the weight of both command and desperation.
"I'm the only one who can reach him," Liora replied, her tone unshakable. "If there's any part of Kaelen left… I have to find it before the Abyss swallows him completely."
Eryndor stared at her for a long moment, then slid a dagger across the table. Its blade shimmered with runes that pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.
"This was forged for the old Keepers—meant to sever the Heart's bond. If you get close enough… it might give you a chance."
Outside, the sky cracked with a sound like splintering glass. More creatures spilled into the city's streets, their claws scraping over stone. The air reeked of smoke and shadow.
Liora tightened her grip on the dagger. She had no illusions about her odds. Entering the Rift during an active breach was madness—but if she failed, there might not be a city left to save.
With one last look toward the distant black spire on the horizon, she stepped into the portal.
The Abyss closed around her like the jaws of a beast.
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