Chapter 33 The Hallow Flame

• The forest thinned into a pale, unearthly valley where nothing grew. No birdsong. No wind. Just silence—so deep it pressed against their ears like water.
• Kael led the way, his sword drawn, though no threat had yet appeared. The heat from the flames within him had dulled to a low burn, but he felt it pulsing steadily beneath his skin, reacting to the ancient magic that coiled through the valley like a memory.
• Elira walked close behind, her hand occasionally brushing his. She said nothing, but her presence grounded him. With every step toward the unknown, her steadiness reminded him who he still was—who he could be.