Auriel left the chamber where Minerva's followers had been left behind. Their desperate prayers and crestfallen faces lingered in her mind, tugging at her conscience.
The way they clung to their fading hope, even when there was no clear path forward, left a deep impression on her.
As a goddess herself, she understood the bond between divine beings and their followers, and though she had no particular attachment to Minerva, she couldn't help but feel pity for her believers.
Just as Auriel was about to speak, she turned to Carol.
"Carol, please… take care of them. I know it's not my place, but—"
She began softly, her voice carrying a weight of guilt.
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden and overwhelming wave of dark magic washed over her senses.
It was so powerful and suffocating that she froze in place, her breath catching in her throat.