After the intense battles and the overwhelming power he had unleashed, Ashen decided it was time to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this region. The Shattered Vale was a place of constant danger, but even in such a volatile region, there were pockets of relative calm—areas where the distortions in time and space were less severe, allowing for brief respite.
Ashen found one such place, a small grove shielded by ancient trees that seemed unaffected by the surrounding chaos. The air here was cool and still, with a gentle breeze that carried the scent of unfamiliar flowers. For the first time since entering the Vale, Ashen allowed himself to relax.
