POV: Aiden

“The land was waiting, and this time it knew my name.”

I step onto the shimmering expanse of the suspended territory. The soil crunches like powdered amethyst under my boots. The air doesn't behave here; it hums with a vibration that rattles my teeth. I haven't been back since the disaster, yet the horizon reaches out to me like an old, hungry friend.

“You look like a man haunted by his own footsteps, Aiden.”

I spin around, my hand flying to my blade. Emerging from the silver ...