The night air grew colder, thick with an unnatural stillness that made Elara's skin crawl. Every shadow seemed to stretch and twitch, as if alive.
Kael stood by the window, eyes sharp, listening.
"They're close," he said quietly.
Elara's heart hammered. "Who exactly are these Sentinels?"
"Hunters of the Veil's breakers," Kael explained. "They enforce the boundaries between worlds. They can't allow you to remember, or us to be together."
Suddenly, a low rumble vibrated through the house.
A sinister wind slammed against the door.
The lock rattled.
And then—
A sharp knock.
Slow. Deliberate.
---
Elara gripped the pendant tightly. The cool metal hummed, pulsing in tune with her rising fear.
Kael moved to block the door.
"You have to get ready," he warned. "When they come in, I need you to trust yourself."
"Trust myself?" Elara echoed, swallowing her panic.
"Your magic… it's tied to that pendant," Kael said. "You don't know it yet, but it's inside you. It's waking."
Another knock. Louder.
The doorknob began to turn.
Elara closed her eyes and whispered, "Please… help me."
A sudden heat surged from the pendant, wrapping around her like a burning embrace. Her fingers glowed faintly.
The door burst open.
Black-robed figures spilled into the room, eyes like burning coals.
The Sentinels.
Kael stepped forward, silver flames igniting around his hands.
"Get behind me," he commanded.
Elara's hands trembled—but then, a spark flared in her palm.
A wave of shimmering light exploded outward, forcing the Sentinels back.
They hissed.
Kael's eyes locked with hers, fierce and proud.
"You're ready."