Chapter 1638

Natalie touched Susan's hand and whispered, "I feel it in my blood."

Susan nodded. "It's like we're walking into ourselves."

They came to a clearing.

But not like the one before.

This place was lower, sunk into the earth like a bowl. And at its center rose a pool - circular, wide, perfectly still. But unlike the dark obsidian waters they had seen before, this one shimmered with translucent gold, its surface too perfect to be liquid. It looked like starlight held in a lens. Like memory made visible.

Rose stepped to the edge of the pool and the starlight ember drifted downward, touching the surface. The pool rippled once. Only once. Then stilled.

Sophie whispered, "It's asking."

Jude stepped beside Rose. "What do we give it?"

"Not our bodies," Rose said. "Not this time."

"Our truth," Sophie said. "Our unity. Ourselves."

The water began to glow brighter.