Sage's POV
Sage grabbed Zara's hand and pulled her behind a broken pillar just as another chunk of ceiling crashed where they'd been standing.
"This is crazy!" Zara shouted over the noise of the crumbling palace. "We're just kids! How are we supposed to save everyone when the royal parents couldn't?"
"Because," Sage said, dodging falling stones while keeping his grip on her hand, "we're the only ones left who haven't given up."
Through the chaos, Sage could see Luna crying over the spot where her mother had disappeared. Sunny was doing the same thing in his realm, both of them broken by losing their parents. The Shadow King's evil laughter echoed through both palaces, making everything worse.
"Luna!" Sage called out, but his best friend didn't seem to hear him. She was lost in her grief, and the magical bond she shared with Sunny was flickering like a dying candle.
"They're shutting down," Zara said, her face pale with worry. "Look at them. They're giving up."
