[Leif's POV — Leif's Chamber—Midnight]
"WHAT—WHY THE HELL?!"
The hearth exploded like someone shoved the sun itself into my fireplace. Shadows fled screaming, my pajamas sparkled as if I'd rolled in a glitter factory, and the crimson babies yelped in pure panic, tails puffed like little smoke bombs.
I squinted through the blinding glow, hand raised like a human shield. The "rock" wasn't just melting—it was peeling, layers flaking off like some sad, magical eggshell.
And inside… something alive pulsed. Something practically screaming, "LEIF! PAY ATTENTION! PLOT TWIST INCOMING!"
"ALVAR!" I waved frantically. "COME. HERE. NOW!"
He turned, shielding his eyes from the dazzle, brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
"I don't know! The rock—no, the stone—is shining like a disco ball!"
Alvar stepped forward and his glacier-cold mask cracked. Just a little. Enough for me to see his eyes widen like saucers.
