d even stopped blowing. There were no whispering leaves, no chirping birds or buzzing insects. Just complete silence that felt like they were being watched and followed. Kyre walked nex

prepared to be her". Mara looked hurt now. "Since you're ready for it... you need to know the whole truth". Kyre moved forward. "Review to us the whole truth right now." He said demanding. At first Mara hesitated. After a while she finally spoke. "The circle was meant to evolve and not to be closed. Teresa misinterpreted it's power believing it meant destruction. In fact, that power was untamed. Maeron tried to make it known to her but she dreaded it". "She feared the cost of it", Aerin said sharply. "And she wasn't wrong. Take a look at what it cost her". "No!" Mara exclaimed, voice rising. "Look at what she made of it. For what reason? She cursed an entire lineage and sentenced to Kyre to centuries of suffering. Yet, the world she sacrificed for remained ungrateful. Kyre's voice narrowed. "You speak just like Maeron" "Perhaps, I sound like him because I once believed as he did". Mara whispered. " And perhaps a part of me still believes so". Aerin stepped back feeling betrayed. "You were on our side" "And I still am", Mara completed. "But I won't allow you repeat the same mistake as Teresa". "You now have an opportunity to mend what was destroyed". As the moon rose higher, the ground shuddered, casting its blood-red glow across the shrine. Aerin's voice was razor-sharped. "They why did you conceal it? Why pretend like you knew nothing? Mara's eye welled. "I didn't reveal it to you because if I did that you... you would have despised me". There was a wave of silence. "You were the one that handed over the journal to Maeron", Kyre realized aloud. "Weren't you? Speak!!" Mara stared but didn't say anything I her defense. Aerin felt betrayal burn in her stomach like acid. "That means you aided him". "No, I guided him". Mara corrected sharply. "To know the truth. And now I'll do same with you". But Aerin's thoughts were spinning. "You were the one who pulled her from the circle", Aerin whispered. "You didn't just witness her death. You aided in ending it". Mara still didn't say a word. An angry Kyre stepped between them. "Don't you come near her. Back away!", He growled. But Mara was already going back. "I won't be an obstacle to you", Mara said, tears welled up in her eyes. "But I won't watch you destroy what's left either". She vanished into the fog. Kyre and Aerin entered the shrine silently. The ancient walls wore faded runes, mystical glyphs that predated the curse. A pedestal positioned at the center, holding a small crystal orb that shimmered with a violet light. As Aerin advanced cautiously, the crystal orb glimmered again and a vision consumed her. *Vision* She found herself standing on a hill sorrounded by a sky ablaze with flames, the haunting howl of wolves echoing behind her. And beside her, stood Kyre and Maeron. You must make a choice, the wind whispered.