The Celestial Heist

Chapter 261: Shadows of Resolve

As the broken pieces of the obelisk lay scattered across the chamber, the oppressive silence of the storm’s dissipated energy settled around them. Kael lowered his sword and took in a deep breath, the tension finally easing from his shoulders. Each member of the group looked worn, their expressions marked with exhaustion and relief. The storm’s power was broken here, but they knew its echoes would follow them still.

Vira was the first to break the silence, examining the fallen remnants of the obelisk with wary eyes. “We may have won this round, but it’s a temporary reprieve. That thing—the storm—it’s not finished with us.”

Lyra nodded, her device still scanning faint pulses of energy lingering around the broken stone. “The storm is wounded, but it’s only pulled back. Like a beast waiting in the shadows, biding its time.”

Kael turned to Naya, who was standing a few steps back, clutching her staff. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a new calm in her stance, a hard-won peace t