The crown of moonlight still shimmered on Aria's brow as she collapsed into Solene's waiting arms. Her body, limp and trembling, glowed faintly, the light slowly receding into her veins. The ritual was complete—but the change had only begun.
Elena knelt beside her, gripping her sister's hand. "She's burning up," she whispered. "Is this supposed to happen?"
Solene nodded solemnly. "The spirit realm has accepted her, but it's also reshaping her. The power will settle… if she survives the awakening."
Thunder cracked overhead—deep, rolling, unnatural. The air tightened around them.
Solene's gaze snapped toward the sanctuary doors.
"That wasn't just weather."
---
Smoke curled into the sky from the eastern ridge. Red flames kissed the edges of the pines, casting an ominous glow over the world. Villages on the outer borders had been razed—packs once peaceful, now forced into submission.
They bore a mark.
Mara's sigil—burned into banners and carved into the land itself.
