The clearing was ready before sunrise.
Torin had arranged more fragments — larger, darker — in a tighter circle.
Rhea stood watch at the edge — silver threads ready.
Kael stood beside Miko — shadows calm.
Torin spoke.
"Today — you hold all of them.
At once."
Miko stared.
"That's impossible."
Torin shook his head.
"It's necessary."
Miko looked at Kael.
He nodded — once.
She stepped into the circle.
The fragments flared — crimson light washing over her.
She reached — not to one — to all.
The seal answered — strong, steady.
All.
The connection snapped into place — overwhelming.
Shadows poured from her — black and crimson, weaving through the fragments.
The circle glowed — bright, blinding.
Miko felt it — the seal expanding, filling every part of her.
Not painful.
Not hungry.
Complete.
Torin's voice came from outside.
"Hold it."
Miko held.
Minutes passed.
The seal pulsed — deep, rhythmic.
More.
Miko breathed — slow.
She gave it more — not fighting, not accepting.
Allowing.
The shadows grew — larger, sharper, controlled.
The fragments levitated — spinning slowly.
Rhea's eyes widened.
Torin watched — unblinking.
Miko felt the seal shift — not taking.
Sharing.
Good.
She smiled — small.
Then — a crack.
One fragment shattered — crimson light exploding outward.
The circle destabilized.
Shadows lashed — wild.
Miko staggered.
Kael moved — shadows surging to contain the backlash.
Torin shouted.
"Release!"
Miko tried.
The seal resisted — clinging.
No.
Miko pushed — hard.
The shadows snapped back — into her.
The fragments fell — dark.
Miko dropped to her knees — gasping.
Kael was there — arms around her.
"You okay?"
Miko nodded — shaky.
"I… I almost lost it."
Torin approached.
"You didn't.
You pulled it back."
Miko looked at him.
"Barely."
Torin nodded.
"But you did."
He looked at Kael.
"She's ready."
Kael's voice was quiet.
"For what?"
Torin's eyes were steady.
"For the real test."
Miko felt the seal pulse — once, approving.
Soon.
To be continued…