The library smelled of aged diploma and dust, a sanctuary for forgotten knowledge. Professor Nazir saluted them with a sick smile, his eyes sharp beneath thick brows. “ Layla, ” he said, “ You’ve brought commodity extraordinary. ”

The sun dipped low as Layla and Omar stood at the edge of the remains, watching the desert stretch endlessly before them. The black tablet, now dormant, rested against Layla’s casket, warm like a twinkle. “ We’ve fulfilled the vaticination, ” Omar muttered. “ So why does it feel like commodity’s just begun? ” Layla glanced at him, eyes distant. “ Because it has. I saw commodity in the light — just before the Guardian dissolved. ”

Snow kept falling and silence descended upon the camp. The flames of the fire had been killed by the wind; there was only the red light of the shards in Elara’s satchel, however. No one spoke. The last words of the shadow man were still ringing in their ears:

“One more piece… and the flame awakens”.

Sukanya, finally breaking the silence, was speaking in a low, edged voice. “What in all the broken worlds was that?

“A warning,” Kael said grimly. “Or a threat.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Riven muttered. “It appeared to be making a prophecy”.

Elara lowered herself onto the chair slowly and her mind was in a state of great confusion. It was not like the guardian in the temple. It was not here trying us. It knew what we were doing – and it does not want us to succeed”.

Riven looked into the darkness behind the camp. “Great. Therefore, we’ve got enemies who want us to collect the shards and those who don’t. Love the clarity.”