The mountain roared around them, stone and snow crashing from above as the cavern began to collapse. Magic crackled in the air — wild, ancient, furious.
Kael reached for Liora. "Run!"
But she didn't move. Her eyes were wide, staring past him.
"No," she whispered. "It's here."
A shadow surged from the darkness, monstrous and formless — magic made flesh. It struck like a storm, and the ground split beneath her feet.
"Liora!" Kael lunged, catching her hand just in time.
Her grip trembled in his.
"Don't you dare," he growled. "I've got you!"
She looked up at him, eyes shining — not with fear, but something softer. Final.
"You don't," she said gently.
And then — she let go.
Kael's scream echoed through the mountain as she fell into the abyss below, swallowed by darkness.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence followed. Cold, cruel silence.
Kael dropped to his knees at the edge, the heat of her still on his skin. The mountain had taken her — ripped her from him just when he'd finally started to see her for what she truly was.
Not an enemy.
Not a burden.
But something he couldn't lose.
And now she was gone.