Ardyn POV

The moment Kael stepped beyond the dream, the world fell silent again.

The tether between us still glowed faintly in my chest, warm, alive, but distant. Every beat of my heart was an echo of his fire burning somewhere far away.

The Dreamborn whispered that he was gone.

But I could still feel him.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes his eyes like emberlight, his voice breaking through the endless white.

He had left the dream, but I remained its anchor.

Time passed ...