The Echoes Of Sacrifice

The silence following the Rift's collapse was deafening. Adira stared at the empty space where Rhea had disappeared, her chest heavy as though the weight of the entire world had settled there. Around her, Kael, Kane, and Finn stood in stunned quiet, their weapons dangling at their sides. The golden light that had been Rhea's magic had vanished, leaving a hollow stillness in its wake.

"She's gone," Kane said, his voice barely a whisper. His usual sarcastic edge was absent, replaced by a raw vulnerability that caught Adira off guard.

"She saved us," Kael added, his tone solemn.

Adira clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. "She shouldn't have had to."

Finn stepped forward, his broad shoulders tense. "We knew the risks. Rhea did too."

"That doesn't make it easier," Adira snapped, her voice cracking. She turned away, her hands trembling. "I should have stopped her."