Chapter 52: A Pact of Four (1)
Hours had passed since Nero and Rowena's discussion, yet the weight of revelation lingered like an unshakable fog.
The chamber remained silent except for the rhythmic breathing of Ember, Lilith, and Alaric, who lay motionless, caught in the aftershocks of their awakening.
Nero sat nearby, watching them with quiet patience. It was not merely exhaustion that gripped them, it was something deeper, something that reshaped them from within.
He knew that when they awoke, they would not be the exact same people they had been before.
The first to stir was Ember. Her fingers twitched against the cold stone floor, as if grasping at something unseen. A soft groan escaped her lips as her eyes flickered open, dazed but aware.
Lilith followed soon after, rubbing her temples, her sharp grey eyes unfocused, weighed down by something intangible.
Alaric shifted last, stretching his limbs before heaving a slow breath, as though grounding himself in the present.
"Damn," Alaric muttered, voice hoarse. "That was... intense."
Ember let out a dry chuckle. "Understatement of the century."
Lilith didn't speak right away. She clenched her fists, the flicker of something unreadable crossing her expression before she finally turned to Nero. Her voice was softer than usual, almost hesitant. "It's real, isn't it?"
Nero nodded solemnly. "Yes. You remember now."