Liora floated in silence.

She couldn’t feel her body, couldn’t hear the healers calling her name. Everything was quiet and white, like time itself had stopped. Then, through the light, a voice came — soft, calm, ancient.

“Liora.”

She turned toward it and saw her — the Moon Goddess. She stood tall and glowing, her hair flowing like white fire, her eyes filled with calm that stretched beyond life.

Liora tried to speak, but no sound came. The goddess stepped closer, her voice ...