Scene 1 – Into the Dark
The explosion of golden light faded, leaving silence in its wake. When Jemil's vision cleared, the Vault's chamber was gone.
In its place stretched a cavern of shifting shadows. The walls seemed alive, breathing with the pulse of unseen creatures. The air was heavy, damp, and carried the iron tang of blood.
Jemil staggered, clutching his chest where the burning mark throbbed violently, its glow faint but unrelenting. The half-formed crown was gone—but he felt its echo above him, like phantom weight pressing on his skull.
Lyra appeared first from the haze, her flames sputtering weakly as if starved of oxygen. She reached for him, then froze, eyes wide. "Jemil… look."
Kaelina's boots crunched against gravel as she stepped forward, sword raised. The darkness seemed to close in around her, but her gaze never wavered.
