The petals were waiting.
I stepped through the final veil—alone.
No court.
No Queen.
No Seraphine's biting grin or Talraine's perfume-twisted warnings.
Just her shrine.
And the promise we never finished.
Golden light shimmered over the pool where we first met. The petals floated in perfect stillness. Glyphs burned faintly on the walls—three of them now, all synced, humming in tune with my heartbeat.
[System Alert – Final Shrine Phase: Active]
[Objective: Complete the Matron Glyph Sync]
[Warning: Memory Saturation Threshold at 91%]
The Sealed Matron appeared without sound.
Bare feet gliding over marble.
Silk gown whispering secrets in a language older than gods.
"You came back," she said. Her voice trembled like warmth barely holding shape. "Even with the world trying to crown you."
"I said I would," I answered. "You still hold me. Even now."
She stepped closer.
Her presence wasn't just spirit anymore.
She was here.
Real.
Solid enough to make the system sweat.
