“You have done well, Kaelen,” Lilithia said, her voice no longer a purr, but a rich, resonant melody. She reached out, her fingers, tipped with claws of obsidian, gently traced the tear track on his cheek. “You have not just created a masterpiece; you have infused it with your own purest essence. And in doing so, you have become a part of Xylos. A vital, vibrant part.”