The peace that followed the great battle was a balm to Aetheria, but it was a fragile peace. The people worked tirelessly to rebuild their homes and their lives, finding strength in the unity that had brought them victory. However, beneath the surface, currents of unease began to stir.
Elara, Selene, and Rylan remained vigilant, knowing that darkness, though defeated, was never truly vanquished. Their bond, forged in the crucible of battle, only grew stronger as they continued to serve Aetheria. They spent their days overseeing the reconstruction efforts and their nights discussing the strange dreams that had begun to haunt them.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the palace courtyard, Elara found herself alone in the war room. Maps and scrolls were spread out before her, detailing the plans for rebuilding and fortifying the kingdom. But her mind was elsewhere, lost in the troubling visions that had plagued her sleep.
