Meanwhile, back at the students, they sat and waited patiently, looking out the window for when Raphaeline and Arannis returned.
As time moved on, the storm began to thin as the immense pressure that had dominated the heavens slowly withdrew, leaving behind only the rumble of distant thunder and the faint shimmer of residual lightning.
Finally, after that long wait, Raphaeline and Arannis returned, alongside a third, mysterious figure, Saphira.
Even to the students, who were accustomed to meeting various beings with great power, Saphira's presence was something else entirely.
Each of her steps rippled faint waves through the clouds, shimmering with hues of molten gold and deep violet. Lightning bent toward her as if drawn to her will, the storm seemed to recognize her as its sovereign.
