Cora fell, her feet tumbling out from underneath her as the pit deepened. Sand poured down the walls, diswaying her hopes to crawl up. She fought against the tremulous currents of earth below her, rising to her knees. Sig descended into the pit, stepping effortlessly atop the shifting sands. He almost seemed to smirk, evidently seeing Cora at a disadvantage.

She only had time to glower before the hurtled chunk of earth knocked her into the churning walls. It took her entire focus to not panic as gravel and salt filled her mouth. *Can’t… breathe…* she thought desperately. As the sand enclosed her figure, mist sparkled the air. Earth turned white as the walls froze, cracking as Cora punched a fist through. The mix of sand and ice cracked apart, freeing a half suffocated Cora. She coughed, taking in large swells of air.

She wiped the grime from her face, a cold smirk pulling at her lips. “Looks like we’re both trying to murder each other. Lovely.”

A cold gust from her lips left her hands half-encased in sharp, glassy ice. Mist spilling off her two new claws, Cora assumed her stance on firm feet. Frost lathered the earth under her, creating the perfect launchpad with which she leapt from. But as her icy attack closed in on Sig, an unexpected noise broke across the wasteland.

It sounded like thunder, except you felt it more than you heard it. It was loud yet quiet, setting every cell in a living person on edge with tingling awe. Several notes rang out in an overtone, creating the briefest harmony before dying down. Seconds later, the hazy orange-yellow sky flashed pure white. Once, then twice. 

As the second flash died down Cora beheld the most vivid images behind her eyes: *A mountainous view filling the expanse of sight, covered in great spruce trees and all manner of life. The trees whispered to one another, conveying the sweetest of life’s mysteries. All things in Kyra were alive. The energies of the cosmos flow through each and every being and plant, connecting all things as one. To influence that was to connect with one’s higher self. To truly have peace. To attain one’s full potential. To save them all from the death of their sun.  One’s enlightened, Elemental Self.*

Cora gasped, frozen still not an inch from Sig. The fight was lost in her, so blown away was she from the vision still glowing in her mind. Her hands fell limply, ice claws shattering as she stared up at the quiet sky. Her lips parted silently, eyes wide with wonder.

“...Could it be… Kyra?” Cora whispered. The sky was silent, a closed and undiscerning book once again. Their enigmatic Goddess was gone.