The air around Elara was no longer still. Even breathing had become difficult, as if an invisible pressure had settled onto her chest. The Moon spirit inside her was not retreating this time; on the contrary, it was embedding itself deeper with every passing second. Elara was aware of this, but that awareness was not enough to stop it.
Kael and Rowan tried to move at the same time, but both were forced to stop before they could even take a single step. The energy forming around Elara was no longer just a wave; it had turned into an uncontrollable field. The ground cracked slightly, and dry leaves lifted into the air, circling around an unseen center.
"Elara…" Rowan said, his voice more careful this time. He didn't want to call her, he wanted to reach her. But Elara could no longer hear external voices clearly. Even her inner voice had begun to blur.
