LOGINEvren stepped through the golden doorway expecting another illusion. Instead, he found himself standing in complete darkness. There was no sky. No ground. No sound. Only endless black stretching in every direction.For a long moment, nothing happened. Then a single golden flame appeared before him. It floated quietly in the darkness. As he stepped closer, more flames ignited. One. Ten. A hundred. Soon thousands of golden lights surrounded him like stars.Each flame reflected a different memory.Evren watched in silence. He saw himself as a child learning to hold a wooden sword. He saw Eros correcting his stance with patient hands. He saw Freya laughing as she bandaged his scraped knees.Another flame shimmered. Pearl. The first time they met. The first time she smiled at him. The first time she reached for his hand. His chest tightened. Every memory felt painfully real.Then the flames suddenly changed color. Gold turned crimson
The crimson vein beneath Evren's skin disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. But no one forgot it.Pearl's heart clenched. She had seen it. Lucien had seen it. And judging by the sorrow in Elyra's eyes, it was far worse than either of them understood.Evren slowly pulled his shirt back into place."I'm fine."Pearl immediately shook her head."No. You aren't."He offered her a reassuring smile."I will be."She stepped closer until she stood directly in front of him."No more pretending. If something happens, you tell us."Evren lowered his gaze. For years, he had carried every burden alone. It was instinct. It was habit. But now he looked at Pearl. Then at Lucien. Finally, he nodded."I promise."Lucien smiled faintly."Good. Because if you try to be the hero again, she'll probably knock you unconscious herself."Pearl didn't even deny it.
Evren's head snapped toward the eastern wing of the palace. The silver light around his bracelet disappeared as quickly as it had come. But the connection remained. He could feel her."Mira."His voice was barely a whisper.Pearl immediately noticed the change in his expression."What is it?"He looked at her, his face drained of color."He's with her."Eros didn't wait another second."Move!"The Lycan King shot across the courtyard like a silver blur. Freya was right behind him. Rowan barked orders as warriors rushed after their King. Within moments, half the palace was running toward the eastern gardens.Evren tried to follow. The moment he took his first step, his knees buckled. The corruption surged violently through his body. He grabbed the nearest pillar before he could fall.Pearl caught his arm."Evren!""I'm fine.""You are absolutely not fine."He gritted his teeth."I have to get to her.""You will," Pearl said firmly. "But if you collapse now, you won't save anyone."Luci
Lucien stepped through the silver doorway. The darkness around him dissolved into a vast circular chamber carved entirely from white crystal. The air shimmered with ancient magic. Countless stars floated above them, though there was no sky.At the center of the chamber, Evren stood waiting. The moment he saw Lucien, relief crossed his face."You made it."Lucien smiled."So did you."Before either of them could speak again, another doorway of silver light opened beside them. Pearl stepped through. For one brief second, she simply stared at them. Then she smiled."We're all here."Without thinking, the three of them walked toward one another. No words were needed. After everything they had faced alone, standing together again felt like a victory.The marks on their bodies suddenly began glowing. Gold. Silver. Blue. The light spread through the chamber like flowing water. The crystal floor beneath their feet awakened. Ancient circles appeared around them. One beneath Evren. One beneath
Lucien opened his eyes to the familiar scent of old parchment and ink. He wasn't standing on the crystal staircase anymore. Instead, he found himself inside the Grand Royal Library. Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, bathing endless shelves of ancient books in warm golden light. Dust floated lazily through the air.It was silent. Peaceful. Perfect.Lucien slowly turned in a circle. Every shelf was exactly where he remembered. Every staircase. Every reading table. Every candle. Even the old ladder leaning against the western shelves."This," he whispered, "is impossible.""You always did like impossible things."A familiar voice answered. Lucien froze, his heart skipping a beat. An elderly man stepped from between the shelves. His silver hair was neatly tied back. His robes were simple but elegant. Kind amber eyes rested warmly on Lucien."Master Aldren..."Lucien breathed. The old scholar smiled."My favorite student."Lucien stood motionless. Master Aldren had
Pearl slowly opened her eyes.The crystal staircase was gone. The endless clouds had vanished. She stood in the middle of a quiet meadow bathed in golden sunlight. Wildflowers stretched as far as she could see. Butterflies drifted lazily through the warm air. A small cottage stood nearby, its windows open as smoke curled gently from the chimney.The peaceful scene tugged at something deep inside her heart. It felt safe. Real.Before she could take another step, the front door of the cottage opened. A woman stepped outside. Her breath caught instantly."Mom..."The word escaped before she could stop it. The woman smiled exactly as Pearl remembered. The same gentle eyes. The same warm smile. The same voice she had dreamed about for years."My little star."Pearl's eyes filled with tears. Her legs moved on their own. She ran. The woman opened her arms, and Pearl threw herself into the embrace she had longed for since childhood.For several moments, neither of them spoke. Pearl simply cri







