The chamber froze.
"She's here for the Heir."
Solarius's words echoed through the collapsing Heart Chamber.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then every eye turned toward Emily.
Astraea smiled.
The expression was gentle.
Kind.
Almost motherly.
And somehow that terrified Emily more than the Devourer's rage ever had.
The First Guardian slowly lowered her hand.
The silver light surrounding her continued to spread through the Graveyard of Worlds.
Entire dead galaxies flickered.
Reality itself trembled.
Yet Astraea's attention never left Emily.
"You've grown."
Emily frowned.
The statement felt strangely personal.
As though Astraea had known her for years.
As though she had been watching.
Waiting.
The Heart Symbol on Emily's forehead burned hotter.
Golden energy surged through her body.
Instinctively.
Protectively.
The inheritance recognized Astraea.
And it wasn't welcoming her.
It was a warning to Emily.
Run.
The message repeated inside her mind.
