The Shadow of the Forgotten Crown

his ribs. The alley twisted like a serpent, narrowing until the walls nearly brushed his shoulders.

s she ducked under a low-hanging beam. Kael bar

grate, knelt, and sang three notes under her breath. Th

her way, but the distant clatter of armor de

e sealed above them, plunging them into blackness. Then, with a whisper, the woman struck a spark

olden eyes locking onto his.

chest where the circle

ected. One that shou

arthquake-something deeper, like the world itself groaning

e vision

one under a

ing skeletal fingers toward a horizo

ike a supernova's ech

s if seared by celestial fire. The woman grabbed hi

as that? he sna

ic, she said. It's a shackle. And you ju

again, but this time, it wasn

ng was

Elements

n imprisoned entity that consumes st

flame isn't normal fire-it's sta

limpses of dying suns hint at

's N

Fanatics who wan the Star-E

man reveals she's part of an ancient

leaves his veins glowing with violet cr

The cosmic horror? The woman's backstory