And yet Max stood there, his posture relaxed, his voice steady, like he already understood the game and had no intention of losing. It unnerved her, just a little, how much certainty he carried.
Then, cutting through her thoughts, his voice broke the silence. "Oh, she's out," he said simply, and Lenavira turned her head quickly toward the monolith. The surface of the pillar rippled slightly, and moments later, Alice stepped through it as if passing through a curtain of light.
Her expression was calm, but the faint glow around her still lingered, as though the power of the pillar hadn't quite left her. All around her, the crowds reacted.
The silence that had fallen before now gave way to movement. People parted to make way for her—not because of fear, but because of recognition.
Whispers stirred like wind through dry leaves. Elves, demons, and humans alike turned their heads to look at her, eyes wide with awe, curiosity, and envy.
