Chapter 65

The woman's hands dropped from their shoulders, and the friends stumbled back, gasping for breath. They looked at each other, their eyes shining with a newfound understanding.

Astrid's sword shone with a light that seemed almost divine, Lily's magic threads pulsed with an intensity that seemed to rival the stars, Sophia's flames danced with a fierce inner light that seemed to burn brighter than ever before, Poppy's voice whispered secrets to the wind with a newfound authority, and Raven's gaze pierced the shadows with a depth that seemed to see right through to the soul.

Oakley's eyes shone with a deep wisdom, as if they had seen the very fabric of reality itself. "We have been given a great gift," they said, their voice barely above a whisper. "The secrets of the universe are ours to wield."