"In a world that nearly broke us, I found my peace not in the silence—but in her." —Ysara
YSARA'S POV
The sea breathed in peace, and I stood on the high bridge of Pearl Castle, the wind threading through my silver-streaked hair. The waters below shimmered with a rare gentleness, no longer stained by the root of the Deep One. The air smelled of salt and serenity, quite different from the storm-ravaged tides that had battered these cliffs only days ago and for the first time in an age, there was silence.
I placed a hand on the ancient stone rail, its surface warm under the sun. The castle pulsed faintly beneath my palm, alive, watchful, and at rest. "You did well," I whispered, unsure if I was speaking to the castle or myself.
Behind me, Ellowen approached quietly. Her presence was like the first bloom after a long winter, soft but unyielding. "You're certain you're ready?" she asked.
