The Heart Chamber was silent.
Completely silent.
No one dared to speak.
No one dared to move.
Aurelia stood before them, bathed in golden light.
Radiant.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
Her presence alone seemed to push back the darkness leaking from the cracked Heart.
The Devourer's laughter had vanished.
The ancient entity remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
For the first time, the creature seemed cautious.
Emily stared at Aurelia.
Her heart raced wildly.
This was the woman she had seen in countless visions.
The Founder.
The Guardian.
The legend whose decisions had shaped history.
And now she stood only a few feet away.
Real.
Or at least as real as a spirit could be.
Aurelia slowly turned toward Emily.
Their eyes met.
A strange warmth spread through Emily's chest.
A familiarity she couldn't explain.
As though she had known this woman all her life.
As though a part of her had always belonged to Aurelia.
The Founder smiled gently.
"Emily."
