The Heartstone pulsed with an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the ancient chamber. Arabela stood at its center, her hand still resting upon its cool surface, feeling its energy flow through her like a river of fire. The power was intoxicating, overwhelming, yet strangely familiar. It had claimed her—body, mind, and soul.But something was wrong.Elias Calderon stood in the doorway, his gaze never leaving her as she absorbed the Heartstone’s power. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes, a glimmer of satisfaction mixed with something darker, something more calculating. He had been waiting for this moment, she realized—waiting for her to step into her role as the Heartstone’s true heir.She pulled her hand away, her breath shaky, her heart racing. The energy was too much, too raw. The stone’s power had surged within her, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. She felt as though her very essence had been twisted and reshaped, remade into something greater—
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