Chapter 106

***Jane***

“We need a place to stay,” I said, my voice firm as I looked around the group. The collapsed safehouse was a pile of rubble behind us, and everyone was crammed into the open field, their faces filled with exhaustion and frustration. “We can’t keep living like this.”  

Allen frowned, his arms crossed. “Jane, we don’t have the resources to build something new. Not right now.”  

“We don’t need resources,” I said, stepping forward. “We have me.”  

The group fell silent, all eyes turning to me. I could feel the weight of their stares, the doubt and curiosity mixing together.  

“What are you talking about?” Kael asked, raising an eyebrow.  

“My mark,” I said, holding up my arm. The faint glow pulsed weakly, but I could feel the power beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. “I can use it to build something. A home. A stronghold. Something that can protect us.”  

Allen’s eyes widened. “Jane, that’s too dangerous. You’ve already lost control once. What if it happens again?”  

“What if it doesn’t?” I shot back, my voice rising. “We’re running out of time, Allen. Jake’s forces are closing in, and we can’t keep living like this. I have to try.”  

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Fine. But we’re doing this together. If something goes wrong, we’ll be here to stop it.”  

I nodded, my chest tightening. “Alright. Let’s do this.”  

I stood in the center of the field, the group gathered around me in a wide circle. My mark was glowing brighter now, the warmth spreading through my arm and into my chest. I closed my eyes, focusing on the image in my mind, a stronghold, sturdy and unbreakable, with walls that could withstand anything.  

“Jane,” Allen said, his voice low. “Are you sure about this?”  

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady. “Just… be ready.”  

I took a deep breath, letting the power flow through me. The ground beneath my feet began to tremble, the air crackling with energy. I could feel the mark’s power surging, stronger than ever before.  

“Here we go,” I whispered.  

I raised my hands, the energy exploding out of me in a wave of light. The ground shook, and the air filled with the sound of cracking stones and shifting earth. I opened my eyes, watching as the stronghold began to take shape, walls rising from the ground, towers stretching toward the sky, a roof forming overhead.  

“It’s working,” Kael said, his voice filled with awe.  

I didn’t respond, my focus entirely on the task at hand. The power was overwhelming, but I pushed through it, channeling it into the structure. The walls grew thicker, the towers taller, and the roof stronger.  

But then, without warning, the mark flared, the energy surging out of control. I gasped, my body trembling as the power threatened to consume me.  

“Jane!” Allen shouted, his voice filled with panic.  

“I’m fine!” I said through gritted teeth, forcing the energy back under control. The stronghold was almost complete, and I wasn’t going to let it fall apart now.  

With one final push, I released the energy, the stronghold solidifying before my eyes. The ground stopped shaking, the air stilling as the power faded.  

I collapsed to my knees, my body trembling with exhaustion.  

“Jane!” Allen was at my side in an instant, his hands gripping my shoulders. “Are you okay?”  

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice weak. “Just… tired.”  

He didn’t respond; his eyes filled with worry as he helped me to my feet.  

The group was silent, their eyes wide as they took in the stronghold. It was massive, its walls thick and unbreakable, its towers reaching toward the sky.  

“Well,” Kael said, breaking the silence. “That’s one way to build a house.”  

I laughed weakly, my legs still shaking. “Yeah. Let’s hope it holds.”  

But even as the group began to move into the stronghold, I could feel the mark’s energy still pulsing beneath the surface. It was stronger than ever, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep it under control.  

“Jane,” Elara said, stepping closer. “Your mark… it’s still unstable.”  

I nodded, my chest tightening. “I know. But we don’t have time to worry about that right now.”  

She didn’t respond, her eyes narrowing as she studied me.  

That night, as the group settled into the stronghold, I sat in the corner, my body still trembling with exhaustion. Allen was nearby, his eyes filled with worry as he watched me.  

“Jane,” he said, his voice low. “You need to rest.”  

“I will,” I said, my voice weak. “Just… give me a minute.”  

He didn’t respond, his jaw tightening as he looked away.  

But before I could say anything else, the ground began to shake, the air filled with the sound of cracking stone.  

“What’s happening?” Kael shouted, his voice filled with panic.  

I stood up, my heart pounding as I looked around. The stronghold was holding, but outside...  

The sky was filled with light, a massive portal opening between Earth and Drakora. The two worlds were merging, the ground shaking as the portal grew larger.  

“No,” I whispered, my chest tightening. “This can’t be happening.”  

But it was, and there was nothing we could do to stop it.