The storm had not yet returned, but the sky over Silvercrest no longer felt steady.

By dawn, the air shimmered faintly — not from heat, but from the residual energy that had begun to radiate from Evelyn’s presence. It was subtle at first: a ripple through the air when she walked by, candles flickering as if bowing to her. But by morning, even the walls seemed to hum faintly when she touched them.

Her power was changing.

Ronan noticed it before anyone else.

He stood in the training yard, ...