For a second, everything paused.
Arthur's fingers closed around the core, solid and real in his grip.
It was His.
He didn't celebrate, didn't even glance at it twice, because his instincts were already screaming.
Move.
"Out," he muttered under his breath.
As soon as the word left him, he stepped, and vanished.
The air cracked softly as he reappeared far from the circle, his boots scraping against the ground as he forced himself to stop.
But even as he moved.
Lyra had moved too.
Faster.
There was no warning, no build-up, just..
Light.
A sudden flash burst from the circle.
FWOOM..!
It swallowed everything.
White. Blinding. Sharp enough to sting the eyes.
Selene flinched instantly.
"What the..!"
Torren threw his arm over his face.
"Damn..!"
Even Ryn narrowed his eyes, though he didn't fully look away.
The light didn't last long, only a moment—
But it was enough.
Enough to steal sight.
Enough to hide everything that happened in that instant.
