held

The wind whipped across the temple's steps as we descended, its chill sharp against my skin. I held Raven's hand tightly in mine, my mind spinning with everything we had faced. The defeat of the entity was still fresh, the image of its writhing shadows dissipating into nothingness vivid in my memory. Yet even as we walked away from the temple, I couldn't shake the lingering presence of the crystal's power deep inside me.

My chest felt tight, and every breath was heavy. The crystal hung at my side, now silent but ever-present, like a weight pressing down on my soul. Its temptation hadn't faded—it merely waited, patient, whispering faintly in the recesses of my mind. Despite the entity's defeat, I knew the battle wasn't truly over.

Raven kept glancing at me, her dark eyes filled with concern that she tried, and failed, to hide. I could feel the question hanging in the air between us, unspoken but loud nonetheless: Was I still me?