Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Fractured Alliances

The aftermath of the battle left the fortress in eerie silence. As dawn broke, the weak light filtered through the shattered windows, casting long shadows across the ruined chamber. Elara stood at the heart of the wreckage, staring at the Shard of Severance, still pulsing with its dark glow. The weight of it felt heavier now, not just physically, but in her soul.

The fortress, once a stronghold of hope, was now a graveyard of allies and dreams. Morgana's lifeless body had been taken to the lower crypts by Kael's soldiers, but her absence left a void that no one could fill. She had been their guide, their protector against the forces that sought to consume their world. Now, they were on their own.

"Elara." Arian's voice was soft, but it carried the gravity of everything left unsaid. He stood beside her, his eyes locked on the Shard as though it might come alive at any moment. "We need to talk."