Lucia's fingers trembled as she held the pale-blue crystal between her palms, infusing it with threads of her divine essence.
The recording glyphs spun slowly at first, then faster, absorbing her voice and thoughts into its core. Each word she spoke felt heavier than the last.
"Kyle… by the time you receive this, I may already be...beyond saving. The ceremony Arkenas is preparing is not merely for balance—it is for dominion. If it succeeds, the mortal realm will never breathe freely again."
She hesitated, her breath catching.
She pressed her lips together, holding back the tide of emotions threatening to spill over.
Turning toward the corner of her chambers, she beckoned with a soft hum. A small, porcelain-faced doll shuffled forward, its glassy eyes reflecting the dim light.
This one had been with her for centuries, the oldest and most loyal of her creations.
