The forest seemed to breathe again, its twisted branches slowly straightening as the corruption's grip loosened. Light filtered through the canopy in gentle rays, casting warm patterns on the softened earth beneath their feet. The battle was over, but its echoes lingered in every corner.
Lior sank to a fallen log, chest heaving as the Celestial Code's pulse steadied within him. The fragments they had fought for glimmered faintly nearby—fragile pieces of a broken world waiting to be healed.
Elyra stood watch, her eyes sharp but tinged with relief. "We did well," she said quietly, though the weight of what lay ahead still pressed heavily on her shoulders.
Mira stretched, a small smile breaking through her usual teasing demeanor. "Not bad for a scholar and his ragtag crew."
Kaelen nodded, silently acknowledging the bond that had formed through battle. Sylvi moved among them, tending to wounds both physical and unseen, her hands gentle but sure.
But beneath the surface, a new tension stirred. The fight had drawn them closer, yet also exposed cracks—fear, doubt, and the unspoken burdens each carried.
Lior caught Elyra's gaze and saw in her eyes the same question that haunted him: Could they truly hold together long enough to heal the world?
He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the Celestial Code and the fragile hope it represented. This victory was a spark, but the darkness remained vast and unyielding.
"We'll rest here," Lior said, voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Tomorrow, we continue. Together."
The group settled, each lost in their own thoughts but bound by a shared purpose. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, they had a glimpse of light—and the strength to follow it.