Chapter 22 The Shadow's Rise

• The world shifted as the Heartstone’s magic enveloped Meher and Ayaan. The space around them pulsed with ancient energy, humming with power. A strange stillness had settled over the land, as though the very air was holding its breath. The valley seemed to stand in suspended animation, the dark sky above them swirling like the eye of a storm, yet there was an eerie calm.
• Meher could feel the weight of the Heartstone's magic deep inside her, its energy merging with her own, amplifying everything—the fear, the power, the bond she shared with Ayaan. For the first time since this journey had begun, she felt as though she could truly comprehend the force they were about to face. The Heartstone had shown her a vision of the future—of a darkness rising. A shadow that sought to consume everything.
• Ayaan’s grip on her hand tightened, bringing her back to the present. “Meher,” he said, his voice firm yet filled with an undercurrent of worry. “What did you see?”