The tunnel opened into a larger chamber — walls smooth, ceiling high, violet light pulsing from cracks in the floor.
The Mother Rift was close.
The seal pulsed — loud, triumphant.
Here.
Miko felt dizzy — head spinning.
The voices were a chorus now.
Open.
Free.
Become.
Us.
She staggered.
Kael caught her.
"Miko."
She shook her head.
"It's… too much."
Kael held her.
"Stay with me."
Miko nodded — shaky.
"I'm trying."
They moved forward — slow.
The chamber widened — rift visible in the distance.
Violet light — pulsing, breathing.
Figures waited — academy elders.
Veyra.
Kael's father.
And the Unnamed — hood up.
Kael's father spoke.
"You came."
Miko's shadows rose — crimson.
"You were waiting."
Kael's father nodded.
"We always were."
Veyra stepped forward.
"The seal is ready."
Miko glared.
"I'm not."
Veyra smiled — thin.
"You will be."
The Unnamed stepped forward.
"You have a choice."
Miko looked at him.
"I already made it."
The Unnamed tilted his head.
"Did you?"
Kael's shadows thickened.
"She chose alive."
The Unnamed's voice was quiet.
"Alive is not free."
Miko felt the seal surge — power flooding her.
Choose.
She pushed back.
I already did.
The seal resisted — voices screaming.
Open.
Free.
Us.
Miko staggered.
Kael held her.
"Fight it."
Miko nodded — teeth clenched.
"I am."
Kael's father raised a hand.
The rift pulsed — brighter.
Violet light exploded.
The chamber shook.
Miko felt the seal pull — hard.
Now.
She fought — shadows exploding outward.
The light dimmed — slightly.
Veyra's eyes widened.
"You're resisting."
Miko glared.
"I'm me."
Kael's shadows joined hers — black and crimson weaving.
The rift quieted.
The elders stepped back.
Kael's father's voice was quiet.
"You can't stop it forever."
Miko looked at him.
"I don't have to."
She stepped forward — shadows roaring.
I just have to stop it now.
The seal pulsed — once, almost proud.
Try.
Miko smiled — grim.
"I will."