As the night air chilled, we stealthily made our way to Karla's backyard, guided by Merry's uncanny ability to extract detailed information from even the most casual of conversations. With Nyssa at my side and Merry leading the way, I felt a huge deal of anticipation. It was my first real treasure hunt!
Karla's house was nestled in a quiet, upscale neighborhood. The roof with red tiles, a school across the road, and a black raven made of metal perched on the tiles were exactly as Merry described. We approached cautiously, keeping to the shadows to avoid detection.
"Over here," Merry whispered, leading us to the backyard. We carefully navigated around the house, our steps silent on the grass. The garden was meticulously kept, but the true marvel was the tree at its center, crackling with vibrant green lightning.
