The air in the Obsidian Sanctum thrummed with ancient magic, thick and steady, like a heartbeat pulsing through stone. There was no sunrise to mark the passage of time here, no moonlight or stars beyond the black walls. Yet somehow, each of them could sense when it was time to wake, as though the Sanctum itself whispered the rhythm of their days and nights.
Samantha stirred slowly, her limbs stretching against the softness of the blankets. Beside her, Nova slept peacefully in her cradle, a tiny bundle of warmth and dreams. Marcus and Kai were already up, their low voices murmuring near the hearth.
Kai peeked over his shoulder with a grin. "Good morning, little chaos," he whispered to Nova, who stirred and gurgled, kicking her tiny feet beneath the blankets.
Marcus leaned over, brushing a gentle kiss against Samantha's temple. "How'd she end up in the garden last night?" he asked with a chuckle.
"She's already a wanderer," Samantha sighed fondly. "Like her parents."
