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The Guide peeked at Zane with earnestness. ‘You promise you will return me to my missing piece?’

‘To your Eden Shard? Absolutely. Probe my psi-mind and confirm the truth for yourself.’

The Lost Shard guide closed its eyes and reached a hand to grasp one of Zane’s blue energy bands.

It sighed, and a smile unfurled on its face.

At the same time, the bleak realms within its undulating surface shifted into calmer, beautiful vistas.

Gardens, vineyards, and sun-drenched hills of such beauty that they elicited gasps from the gathered party.

Even more impressive was when the thick, dangling chains on its feet and hands fell away, the metaphorical prison it had put itself in vanishing from sight.

Riv tilted his head in wonder. ‘It’s returning to wholeness.’

The Shard’s guardian also transformed. From its chaotic form into a beguiling nymph, its features, gossamer robe, and face cleared to reveal an endearing creature with a shy smile.

‘I apologize for my tantrum.’ Its voice was now silken and soft. ‘An existence without hope is torture.’

‘You had a good enough reason,’ Élisa said, taking an instinctive step toward it. She reached out, and the nymph-like Guide placed its hand in hers.

In that instant, Élisa felt a jolt through her body.

‘You’re the one who needs healing?’

Élisa stared at the creature, captivated. ‘I do.’

The nymph pulled off Élisa’s eye patch. Placing her cool fingers on Élisa’s eye, she pressed her eye shut.

Élisa jolted as a current of energy flowed through the Guide’s hands, suffusing her with light flashes and heat that seared behind her blind eye. The zinging effect lasted for minutes before the nymph withdrew their hand.

‘Open your eyes. Both of them.’

Élisa took a breath and opened her eyes to the wonder of sight in both.

She flinched as more light than she’d expected flooded her optics.

Riv was by her side as she blinked in rapid succession. ‘Élisa? Love?’ he rasped, his voice imbued with concern.

She turned to him and clutched his arm. ‘I can see, Riv.’

Turning to her son, she rushed to him, embracing him. ‘Killen, both my eyes have sight.’

Gratitude poured from her lilac eyes, which were now both shining bright. ‘Thank you so much, Shard guide. I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.’

The silver creature smiled. ‘My pleasure. It feels good to alleviate your suffering after years of not being much use to anyone.’

Élisa ventured forward and touched its arm. ‘Will you help my son?’

‘It would be my honor.’

The nymph beckoned to Zane and Killen. ‘Come with me and bring your wounded friend with you.’

Zane reached down for the still-unconscious Kisan, and leading the way, the trio approached the Shard.

Killen turned to Élisa, staring at her with his sightless eyes. ‘I’ll be back, Mother. Very soon.’

She stepped up to him and embraced him, kissing his cheek. ‘You’re the apple of my eye. I can’t live without you. Return to me, my beloved. Soon.’