Chapter 38: The Weight of Power
Elara stood in silence, her heart aching as Marcus's footsteps faded into the distance. Garrick rose beside her, his hand resting gently on her arm. "Give him time," he said softly. "He's struggling, but he'll come around."
Elara nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. She had seen the pain in Marcus's eyes, the way he had felt overshadowed by her. She had never wanted that. She had never wanted any of them to feel less than what they were.
But now, the path ahead felt more uncertain than ever. The weight of her legacy, the trials they had faced, and the growing rift between her and Marcus—everything was coming to a head. And with the fourth artifact almost within their grasp, Elara knew that the challenges they had faced so far were only the beginning.
She sat down by the fire, her mind heavy with the burden of her newfound power. Garrick sat beside her, offering silent support as the night stretched on. In the quiet, Elara wondered what the future would hold—and whether she was truly ready to face it.