The storm over Dominion had no wind.
Just light.
It shimmered unnaturally, clouds pulsing in sync with the system core. The skies had bled before—during battles, during invasions—but this? This was different.
Aya paced across the courtyard, her sabers humming faintly.
Velhira sat on a railing, tossing a memory stone from one hand to the other.
"It's been too quiet," she muttered.
Lilith stood near the edge, staring out into the fog. "They're watching. Waiting."
Serai entered, calm as ever, but her silver brows furrowed. "Something has breached the outer code. The Thrones sent… something new."
Mira's voice crackled through the coms.
"Elias. You might want to see this."
---
Inside the command core, Elias stood before the holo-display.
The screen showed a thread. One he recognized instantly.
Red and violet.
Wild. Chaotic.
Heartbreaking.
> [THREAD SIGNAL DETECTED: SUBJECT — XARA]
[WARNING: THREAD CLASS — ALTERED]
[HOST STATUS: UNKNOWN]
Elias's heart dropped.