Beyond the veil

Aria's consciousness drifted through a sea of darkness. Kael's voice echoed.

"Aria, wake up!" Kael shouted. "Fight!" Aria's eyelids fluttered.

She lay on cold stone.

Chains no longer bound her.

Kael's face hovered above.

Relief etched on his features.

"Aria, thank the gods," Kael whispered. "I thought I'd lost you." Aria's gaze cleared.

Memory flooded back.

The ritual.

Archon Xandros.

Elian's betrayal.

Aria's determination hardened.

"We must escape," Aria said. "Now." Kael nodded.

"Lyra and Thorne await outside," Kael said. "We'll take down Archon Xandros." Aria rose.

Together, they navigated.

The winding tunnels of Erebus.

Avoiding Umbra Collective minions.

Until they reached.

The outer gates.

Lyra and Thorne stood guard.

"About time," Lyra said, smiling. "We've held off the Collective." Thorne nodded.

"Time to regroup," Thorne said. "Plan our next move." Aria's eyes locked onto Kael's.

"Elian," Aria whispered. "He's with the Collective." Kael's jaw clenched.

"Traitor," Kael spat. "We'll deal with him later." Aria nodded.

First.

Archon Xandros.

Must fall.

As they emerged.

Into Elyria's moonlit night.

Aria realized.

Their struggle.

Had only begun.

The Umbra Collective.

Would stop at nothing.

To claim Elyria.