The Red Sky Hotel felt different now—more alive, more watchful, as though the building itself had tasted the truth of Elira's blood. The thick walls seemed to pulse, the floors creaked in warning, and the air, once warm with the scent of luxury, now smelled faintly of smoke and iron.
Elira couldn't shake the feeling that the hotel had never been meant for someone like her. It had always been a bridge—an in-between place—but now, with the Crystal Heart stirring within her, it felt like a prison.
Her footsteps echoed down the corridor as she moved toward the dining hall. The firelight flickered from the large hearth in the center, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Kael's presence was a constant behind her, though she hadn't seen him since their brief conversation in the library. His absence left her feeling strangely hollow, yet her thoughts remained fixed on him, like a beacon calling to her from the darkness.
She stopped at the grand window, her fingers brushing against the cold glass. Outside, the moon hung high in the sky, bathing the world in silver. The sight of it should have calmed her, but instead, it deepened the sense of isolation growing within her chest.
"Elira?"
The sound of his voice made her turn. Kael stood just a few feet away, his silver eyes catching the flicker of firelight. He was dressed in dark, simple clothes, his usual military uniform replaced by the attire of someone blending in. Someone who no longer knew where he belonged.
"Kael." She didn't know why his presence was both a comfort and a weight, but it was undeniable. "I didn't expect you."
He stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking with every slow step. "I thought you might want to talk," he said quietly.
Her pulse quickened. She didn't know what they had to talk about. Not anymore. "About what?"
"About what's happening," he replied, his voice soft but firm. "About what's coming."
Her fingers clenched at her sides. "And what's coming, exactly? More shadows? More whispers?"
"More than that." Kael's gaze held hers with an intensity that made her chest tighten. "The people from my world—the ones who know about you—they won't wait forever. They'll come for you."
Her throat felt dry. "Then what am I supposed to do? Go with you? Leave everything behind?"
His eyes softened, and for a brief moment, she saw the vulnerability in him that had been hidden beneath his guarded exterior. "I don't want you to come with me. I don't want to drag you into this world, Elira. But you have to understand… it's not just about the Heart. It's about everything it represents."
She tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"
Kael's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. "The Crystal Heart is more than just a stone. It's a symbol. It has the power to unmake entire civilizations, to shift the balance of power in both worlds. Whoever controls it controls everything."
She took a step back, feeling the weight of his words sink in. "And you think they'll come for me because of that power?"
"They won't stop until they get it." Kael's voice hardened, the soldier within him returning. "And I'll be damned if I let them take you, Elira."
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could form the words, the air shifted—cold and sharp, like the crackle before a storm. A door at the end of the hall slammed open, and footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Kael's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around her wrist, pulling her to him. "Stay close," he murmured.
"Who is it?" she asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
"They've found us," Kael answered grimly. "The Shadows."
The door opened fully, revealing a figure cloaked in dark robes. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but the malicious gleam in his eyes told Elira everything she needed to know.
"Kael," the figure said in a voice that dripped with venom. "You've failed us. You've betrayed your oath."
"I didn't betray anything," Kael growled. "I'm not taking her anywhere."
The figure's lips curled into a sneer. "We're not here for negotiations, Kael. The Heart calls, and it will be returned. Now, step aside."
Kael didn't move. His posture was rigid, ready for a fight.
Elira felt the pulse of the Crystal Heart beneath her skin, its power thrumming in time with her racing heartbeat. She didn't know what it was, but she knew it was something she couldn't let go. She wouldn't let them take it from her.
"What do you want with me?" Elira demanded, her voice stronger than she felt.
The Shadow's gaze flicked to her, and his smile grew wider. "The Heart must be returned. Its time is coming. And so are we."
Kael stepped forward, standing between Elira and the intruder. "Leave. Now."
"You don't control this world anymore, Kael," the Shadow hissed. "We are the ones who will reshape it."
With a sudden, fluid motion, the Shadow raised his arm, and the air around them thickened. Elira felt a strange pressure in the room, as though the space itself was trying to constrict around her. Her vision blurred for a moment, and she heard Kael's voice through the haze.
"Run, Elira!"
Before she could react, the figure raised his hand again, and a burst of magic shot toward Kael, knocking him backward. The force of the impact sent him crashing into a nearby pillar, but he didn't stay down.
Elira's heart hammered in her chest. She knew she couldn't stand by. She had the Heart. She had the power.
But what was she supposed to do with it?
In that moment, she understood the weight of her decision. The Heart wasn't just a gift—it was a curse. One that would pull her into the heart of a war she didn't understand, a war that had been raging long before she was even born.
And now, the Shadows were closing in.