They rested for four hours on the central platform, and Azrail used the time to assess everyone's state.
The First Echo had been brutal in its own way—not physically painful, but psychologically exhausting. His family had come through intact, which was good, but they were all visibly drained.
Huifen sat with her back against the obsidian platform, eyes closed, breathing controlled. She'd faced her fear of inadequacy and come through it, but the cost showed in the tension around her eyes.
Max was talking quietly with his grandparents, the three of them processing their respective trials with kind, gentle honesty.
Kia sat alone, shadow aura contained but active, her Umbra Clan disguise making her look like she was part of the darkness around them. She'd confronted her situation directly and emerged stronger, but Azrail could see the way her hands trembled slightly when she thought no one was watching.
