CHAPTER SEVEN
THE CITY BENEATH THE MOON
The group reached a city hidden beneath an enormous floating moon.
It was called Noctara.
Unlike Aetheria, the city was almost completely dark.
People walked silently.
Nobody smiled.
Nobody spoke.
Elara immediately recognized it.
It felt like Veyra.
"Why are they emotionless?"
Darian answered,
"Because the Hollow has been feeding on them."
Elara looked around.
"What can we do?"
"The same thing you did in Veyra."
"Bring their emotions back?"
Darian nodded.
"But this time the Hollow will fight you."
Elara stepped into the center of the city.
She closed her eyes.
She remembered happiness.
Love.
Fear.
Grief.
Hope.
Golden light spread through the streets.
People stopped.
One woman began crying.
A child laughed.
An old man fell to his knees.
For a few seconds, everything was beautiful.
Then the Hollow appeared.
It rose from the ground like a living shadow.
It looked at Elara.
And spoke with her own voice.
"You cannot save everyone."
Elara stared at it.
"Maybe not."
The Hollow smiled.
"But I can try."
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