Iceland's volcanic plains stretched under a sky bruised with auroras, the Keeper spark signal pulsing from a cave within a basalt cliff, its jagged mouth glowing faintly against the frost. Ruoxi crouched behind a lava rock, her breath misting in the near-zero chill, her shoulder scar a faint throb beneath her thermal gear. The phoenix tattoo pulsed—heart-driven, balanced, the pact's vow—"choice, sacrifice, heart to bind"—alive after Bali's fire. Mei's hand steadied hers, the girl's phoenix tattoo radiant now, her guardian spark honed by training, a beacon in the dark. The book's golden hum and Wei's phoenix claw relic rested in her pack, anchors for a legacy of sparks, guided by Lian's spark network.