Back in the mortal realm, Elara's body convulsed on the ritual dais.
Nathan and Moriah stood watch, blade and spell ready. They'd already fought off two shadow assassins who breached the veil-ring.
"She's been gone too long," Nathan said. "What if—"
"She's not gone," Moriah replied, eyes glowing. "She's changing."
Suddenly, the glyph over Elara's heart burned white.
She sat bolt upright, gasping.
Her hair now shimmered with silver threads. Her eyes glowed faintly, as if stars swirled within them. Her voice, when she spoke, was layered—hers, and something older.
"It's done."
Nathan stepped forward. "Elara?"
She looked at him—and for a moment, she wasn't sure if she was still Elara at all.
"I saw the Moonmother's death," she whispered. "I saw the glyph form from her soul. We are not meant to carry it forever."
Moriah knelt. "What did you learn?"
"That I am not the end," Elara said. "I'm the reset."
The room fell into silence as runes around them sparked into new patterns—runes never before seen.
And somewhere in the depths of the Court, a bell tolled.