The Celestial Heist

Chapter 193: The Gathering Storm

The forest stretched on endlessly, its ancient trees towering above the Celestial Marauders as they pressed forward, driven by the resolve to honor Naya’s sacrifice and continue their quest. The path beneath their feet was uneven, covered in roots and undergrowth, but they moved with purpose, the recalibrated device in Lyra’s hand guiding them toward the next fragment.

Kael led the group with a determined pace, his senses attuned to every rustle of leaves, every distant bird call. The weight of leadership had grown heavier since Naya’s death, and while he bore it with resolve, the doubts gnawed at the edges of his mind. He had to stay strong—for the group, for the mission, for the balance of the realms.

Vira walked beside him, her usual radiance dimmed but not extinguished. She could sense the tension in Kael, the way his shoulders seemed more rigid, his gaze more intense. "You don’t have to carry this burden alone, Kael," she said softly, her voice a soothing balm against the strain