rest

The golden light that had erupted from Kiara pulsed through the ruins like a divine heartbeat. The spirits shrieked, recoiling from the sheer force of her awakening. For a brief, breathtaking moment, she hovered there—transcendent, untouchable, the very embodiment of Athena reborn.

Lucius barely dared to breathe. His heart thundered in his chest as he took in the sight of her, bathed in gold, radiating a power that had been locked away for far too long.

Then—

The light flickered.

Kiara's body swayed, the divine glow in her eyes dimming. The air around her cracked as the energy she had unleashed began to collapse inward.

"Kiara!" Lucius surged forward just as her body gave out.

She fell.

His arms were around her before she could hit the ground, his grip tight, desperate. Her golden armor flickered, then faded entirely, leaving her in the simple white gown she had been taken in. Her breath was shallow, her body limp.