The bolt never touched her. However, it came close enough for Aire to feel the heat, and close enough for the air around her to split with a deafening crack.
Every instinct inside her screamed to move but before she could, something else moved first.
Pain exploded inside her chest.
It felt as though something buried beneath her heart had suddenly awakened after centuries of sleep.
Aire gasped.
The half cresent mark behind her ear blazed silver. Then, a wave of light burst out of her.
It wasn't a magic she cast. She hadn't lifted a hand, or spoken a word. The silver force erupted from the center of her chest like a heartbeat made visible.
BOOM!
The corridor disappeared beneath blinding light. The dark purple lightning struck the silver wave.
Instead of breaking through, it shattered.
Thousands of violet sparks scattered harmlessly across the palace floor before dissolving into nothing.
