When we returned to the Academy, the sky had changed.

The stars spun in unnatural patterns. Wards failed without warning. And everywhere, people dreamed of the golden figure.

The Conclave demanded answers. I gave them a choice: fight the future—or change it.

They didn’t like either.

Lilith met me in the library that night. "You’re different now."

I nodded. "The First Flame... it didn’t just give me power. It gave me permission."

"To do what?"

"To stop being the Architect."

Her eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

I raised my hand. The Heart Shard floated above my palm—then shattered.

Not in anger. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

In choice.

I wasn’t going to fix the cycle.

I was going to break it.