Morning never came. The sun rose only halfway, then dimmed to a dull gray. Lyra felt the fire‑mark on her wrist pulse painfully. Rowan ran to her house, breathless. “Lyra… the Hollow King has broken free.” The world felt like it was holding its breath.

Aeralune soared from the sky in a burst of silver light. Elarin stepped from the forest, leaves swirling around her. Solin, the starlit wolf, padded forward silently. The Ember Queen rose from a pillar of flame. Four Guardians stood together at last—yet something was missing.

“The fifth Guardian,” Aeralune said. “The one who vanished.”

Lyra felt the mark on her wrist burn brighter.

The Guardians led Lyra and Rowan deep into the forest, to a hidden shrine carved with symbols of water and light. When Lyra touched the stone, it glowed. A voice whispered: “Listener… you are the key.”

The shrine cracked open, revealing a pool of glowing water. In its reflection, Lyra didn’t see herself—she saw a figure of shimmering light.