The Radiant Gate swallowed them in a rush of golden light.
It wasn't like stepping through a doorway.It was like falling through a sunrise.
Warmth exploded across Amila's skin.Flashes of sky.Feathers of fire.Whispers of a lullaby she had forgotten a long time ago.
Claire held her hand the entire time.
And then—
They landed.
The ground beneath them glowed like polished marble, except it wasn't stone.It was condensed light.
Amila stared, breathless.
"Cl… Claire… are we—?"
Claire nodded slowly.
"We're here."
The Realm of the Radiant.
A paradise of dawn skies and floating gardens.Massive citadels built from white-gold crystal.Every breath tasted like morning.
But none of it compared to the figure standing at the top of the radiant staircase.
THE WOMAN WHO SHINES
She didn't have to announce herself.
Her presence rolled across the courtyard like the first light after a long night—warm, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.
Tall.Graceful.Hair glowing like strands of daybreak.Eyes bright as molten gold.
Amila's breath broke.
"…M-Mom?"
The woman froze.
Then her face softened—slowly, painfully, like a heart healing in real time.
"Amila," she whispered, voice trembling.
The sound of her name was enough to shatter something inside Amila's chest.
Her mother took one hesitant step forward.
Then another.
Then she closed the distance and wrapped Amila in her arms.
The world went silent.
Amila's fingers dug into her mother's robes as if she might vanish again.
Claire stepped back, giving them space, eyes misting.
The woman pressed her forehead to Amila's.
"My light… I prayed every day that I'd see you again."
Amila let out a choked, shaking breath.
"You left," she whispered. "You left… and I didn't understand why."
Her mother closed her eyes.
"I left to protect you from the darkness hunting our bloodline.From her."
Seraphine.
The name neither of them wanted to say.
CLAIRE IS SEEN
Amila's mother finally lifted her gaze—and her expression changed when she saw Claire.
Not suspicion.Not fear.
Recognition.
"You… you bear the Mark of the Star," she whispered.
Claire's heart skipped.
"Um… yes? I mean… hi. I'm Claire. I'm—"
"You are not just Claire," the woman said softly."You are the Star-Bearer. The one destined to watch over my daughter when I could not."
Claire blinked rapidly, overwhelmed.
Amila squeezed her hand, smiling.
"She's not just my protector. She's my sister."
The woman's expression warmed.
"Then you are both my daughters now."
Claire made a small squeak that definitely was not dignified.
Amila interjected quickly:
"Mom—there's so much we need to understand. The Archivist said we have to train. And Seraphine—she's already moving."
A shadow passed over her mother's features.
"Yes. That is why I called you here."
THE TRAINING BEGINS
The Radiant Queen—Amila's mother—turned and gestured.
The world shimmered.
The courtyard changed, opening into a massive circular arena carved from morning light.
Energy hummed in the air.
"You both carry powers that could reshape the world," she said."But power without control is disaster."
She looked at Amila first.
"You are Dawnblood. The fire of creation lives in your veins."
Then Claire.
"And you, Claire, wield the celestial star-flame.Rare.Beautiful.Dangerous."
Claire swallowed hard.
"No pressure."
The Queen smiled faintly.
"Pressure is how diamonds form."
She lifted her hand.
Light spiraled from her palm and wrapped around the arena like a shield.
"When we begin… this barrier will protect the realm from you."
Amila's eyes widened.
"Protect… the realm?"
Her mother didn't apologize.
"You have no idea how powerful you already are."
Claire whispered under her breath.
"…Okay, now I'm scared."
"Good," the Queen said softly."Fear means you understand what you hold."
THE FIRST TEST
The Queen raised both hands—and the air vibrated.
A wave of energy exploded outward, hitting Claire and Amila like a rush of heat.
Amila staggered.
Claire gasped.
"What… what is that?!"
"Your own magic," the Queen said calmly. "Amplified.Let it rise."
Claire's chest lit up with starlight.
Amila's veins glowed like flowing sunrise.
The arena thrummed.
And the Queen stepped back.
"Show me you can control your power," she said.
"Show me you are ready to face Seraphine."
Amila and Claire exchanged a terrified look.
But then—
They nodded.
Together.