The crimson light faded from Alex's back, leaving behind nothing visible to the naked eye. The wings had merged completely, becoming part of his spiritual essence rather than a physical appendage. He could feel them there, dormant but ready, like a second heartbeat waiting to be unleashed.
Mira watched him with an expression he could not quite read. Relief, perhaps. Or resignation. It was difficult to tell with her.
"You feel it?" she asked.
"Yes," Alex replied. "Like holding a storm inside a bottle."
She nodded slowly. "Use it wisely. Five minutes is not a long time. But in this place, five minutes can be the difference between climbing and falling."
He turned to face her fully. "Why did you show me this? You could have kept searching for someone else who might activate it. Or you could have waited until you grew strong enough to meet the requirement yourself."
