The path ahead felt endless as we continued our trek toward the ancient temple. Every step through the dense forest brought us closer to the unknown, and the air grew heavier with a sense of impending danger. Despite the earlier victory over the shadow, the tension among us had only thickened. Each of us knew that the worst was yet to come, but no one dared to voice it aloud.
Raven kept close to me, her gaze flicking constantly to the treeline as if expecting the shadows to jump out at any moment. Her body language screamed vigilance, but I knew her concern wasn't just for what lay beyond the forest. She was worried about me—about the crystal.
