The cavernous stillness within the Circle of Resonance was heavy, unmoving—perfect for the path of Still Earth.
Morris stood at the edge of the stone platform, inhaling deeply, his palms touching the dusty earth beneath him. The statue of the Juggernaut of Stone, looming before him, radiated quiet resilience—its etched face calm and unmoving, hands merged with the ground itself.
Naena nodded solemnly nearby. "You're ready, Morris. But remember, stillness doesn't mean silence. It means clarity. Earth remembers, even when all else forgets."
Morris stepped forward.
He closed his eyes.
The moment his foot touched the center of the Circle—
The entire Hollow trembled.
But not from the statue.
A burst of light—sharp, radiant, and uncontainable—exploded from the tent across the Hollow where Lila lay.
