The crimson aura spreading from Elara continued expanding through downtown San Diego while smoke drifted across ruined streets and frightened civilians watched from behind damaged vehicles, and nobody fully understood what they were witnessing because the force radiating from her presence felt older than language and deeper than ordinary fear. The city seemed to pause around her. The wind itself appeared reluctant to move. Even distant sirens sounded strangely muted beneath the pressure filling the night.
People who had never met Elara found themselves staring toward her with expressions they could not explain, and although their minds searched desperately for logical answers, their instincts responded first to the overwhelming authority washing across the city. Some stepped backward unconsciously. Some lowered their eyes. Some simply stood motionless while confusion replaced panic.
