“I had a dream,” you say.

The words feel strange leaving your mouth. Dangerous, somehow. Like speaking them makes them real.

Sera turns toward you fully, her attention sharp. Even Tommin stops pacing.

“What kind of dream?” Lira asks. Her voice is neutral, but her eyes are intent.

You try to find the words. “There was… light. Purple light, like the gem. And faces—people I’ve never met, but somehow I knew them. A woman in blue who was trying to tell me something. A man wrapped in gold who was afraid. Another woman, with vines in her hair, who…”

You stop. The memory of the blade falling. The knowing eyes.

“Who what?” Sera prompts gently.

“Who died,” you finish. “They all died. And there was someone else. A man in armor. He looked… wrong. Like a person wearing a mask of a person. And he saw me. In the dream. He looked right at me and said—”

I’ve always seen you.

You can’t make yourself say it.

The silence stretches.

“I’ve had dreams too,” Sera says finally. “Not like that. But… feelings. Impressions. Like something is trying to reach me but can’t quite break through.”

“That’s just nerves,” Tommin says, but his voice lacks conviction. “The ceremony is important. It’s natural to be anxious.”

“I saw the gem crack,” Lira says quietly.

Everyone turns to her.

“In my dream,” she continues, her voice flat. “I saw the Purple Gem split down the middle. And something came out. Something that had been trapped inside for a very long time.” She looks up, meeting your eyes. “It was screaming.”

The bells ring again, closer now. More insistent.

Maren appears in the doorway. “It’s time,” she says. Her eyes sweep over the four of you, lingering on you for just a moment. “The ceremony waits for no one.”

Whatever you might have said, whatever questions you might have asked, will have to wait.

You stand. The others stand with you.

Together, you walk toward the door.