Under the silvery glow of the moon, silence continued to hover around the sleeping lake. The Vollua forest seemed to be holding its breath, as if it knew what was going to happen here tonight.
Foster, still seated at the water's edge, was cross-legged, palms open in his lap. Opposite him, Xor'venhaal had folded his wings, lowered his massive head until their eyes were level.
Their eyes met, intense, determined.
- I'm ready," Foster said in a calm voice, despite the turmoil in his chest.
- No," replied Xor'venhaal, his voice echoing in the elf's mind.
- But we'll try.
Foster closed his eyes.
And with a shared breath...
They released their minds.
The world shifted.
Everything became light, then lightlessness. The limits of flesh faded, sensations stretched like sails in a burning wind.
Foster blinked.
He stood... on nothing.
A white, infinite void, with no ground, no sky. And yet, he felt like he was walking. To breathe.
