At the same time, in Astraea.
White light flared.
Seraphina collapsed onto the polished starsteel floor of Astraea's teleportation chamber, her knees giving out as the residual glow of teleportation peeled away from her body.
The first thing the attendants saw was blood.
Burn marks scorched across her arms and side, her once-pristine uniform half-melted, mana still leaking from her like heat from dying embers. Her breathing was ragged and uneven.
For half a heartbeat, the chamber froze.
Then chaos erupted.
"Healers—NOW!"
"Call the medical wing!"
"Is that—Lady Seraphina?!"
Hands reached out, carefully steadying her as healing arrays snapped to life. Green and blue light washed over her wounds, steam hissing as flesh began to regenerate.
And then—
WHOOSH.
The air folded.
A tall man stepped out of warped space, silver-white hair flowing, crimson cloak snapping sharply as if struck by a phantom wind.
Supreme Valerius.
