Sophie touched it first, her fingers light on the ancient carving, her breath catching in her throat. Rose followed, pressing her palm flat to the spiral's curve, her eyes half-closed, as if listening with her soul. Jude laid his hand between theirs, feeling the warmth of the stone, the thrum of the spiral's song.
The others joined them, one by one, forming a circle around the pillar. The hum rose, a crescendo that filled the clearing, the sky, the world. And then, slowly, it faded, leaving only the soft rush of the wind and the steady beat of their hearts.
Jude drew a breath, deep and sure. "We're on the right path," he said, voice quiet but certain. "Whatever comes next… we'll face it together."
Sophie leaned into him, her lips brushing his jaw, her smile soft and full of love. "Always."
Rose's fingers trailed down his arm, her touch sparking a heat that lingered even in the cool morning air. "Let's see where this spiral leads."