A massive statue dominates the center of the hall — a woman with her hand outstretched, wings spread wide, eyes soft but powerful. Waiting.
Kaia stops. Her breath catches.
“Oh,” she whispers. Just that. Justoh.
The rest of us gather at the entrance, drawn by the light, by the gravity of the moment. Even Darian edges closer, though he keeps his distance.
Kaia walks toward the statue like she’s in a trance. The shadows follow, clustering at her feet, climbing the walls, filling the hall with living darkness that somehow doesn’t feel dark at all.
She stops in front of the statue and looks up at its face.
“She looks like you,” I say before I can stop myself.
Kaia doesn’t answer. She just reaches up and touches the statue’s outstretched hand.
The entire cavern responds.
Every tunnel brightens for a heartbeat — all of them, all at once.
This cannot be good. Right?
Like Japti itself is acknowledging something. Acknowledging her.
The shadows curl around Kaia’s feet more content than I’ve ever seen them.
“It can’t be.” Kaia whispers.
Malrik’s voice is soft. Reverent. “Kaia, you don’t have to be anything but who you are. This doesn’t change anything.”
We stand there in silence, watching the light pulse and fade, watching the shadows settle, watching Kaia at the center of something none of us fully understand.
Aspen moves first. He steps into the Valkyrie hall and stands beside Kaia. Doesn’t say anything. Just… present.
Torric follows. Then Kieran. Then Malrik.
They form a loose circle around her. Protective. Supportive. A family that chose each other.
Even Darian edges closer, though he stays at the threshold. Watching. Wanting. Afraid.
And me?
I’m still standing in the cavern. Looking at the one tunnel that’s still dark.
The symbols flare.
What the… Did anyone else see that?
I blink, but they’re still there. Flaring violently — blazing to life like they’ve been waiting centuries for me to show up and finally something interesting is happening. Pink and white and crackling, pulsing wild and untamed. A low hum builds in the air, vibrating through the wood beneath my feet.
Everyone turns.
“What the—” Torric starts.
I stumble back a step. “Okay… nope. Nope. That feels illegal.”
Kaia exhales softly — not quite a laugh, but close. She’s already moving toward me, shadows trailing behind her.
One of the Eds drifts closer to the tunnel, curious, then immediately retreats like it got zapped. Fair enough, little guy.
