"The Heir has returned."
The voice rolled across the Sanctuary like thunder.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Alive.
The words echoed through every street, every tower, and every bridge of the hidden city.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
The entire valley had fallen silent.
Even the Hollow Ones had stopped their attack.
Their glowing eyes stared toward the city beyond the gates.
Fear appeared on their twisted faces.
For the first time since Emily had encountered them—
They looked afraid.
The beam of golden light continued to rise from the center of the Sanctuary.
Straight into the heavens.
The storm overhead began breaking apart.
Dark clouds retreated.
Golden light spilled across the sky.
The city glowed brighter.
More beautiful.
More alive.
Emily couldn't take her eyes off it.
Thousands of years.
The Sanctuary had remained hidden for thousands of years.
And somehow—
It looked untouched by time.
The floating bridges still hovered above the streets.
