The campfire crackled softly, casting warm light on the group gathered around it. Cinder sat close to the flames, her mind still spinning from the revelations about her mother. She looked around at her allies—Jason, Zara, Marcus, and the others who had stood by her side. They had fought so much together, and she trusted them with her life. But trust, she was about to learn, could be a fragile thing.
Zara was speaking, her voice calm and measured as she explained the significance of the sealed power within Cinder. "Your mother did what she thought was best," Zara said. "But now, you'll have to decide how to use what's been given to you."
Cinder nodded, her heart heavy. She felt the weight of everyone's gaze. They believed in her, and she didn't want to let them down. But something felt... off. A prickle of unease crawled up her spine, though she couldn't place why.