The dust settled slowly in the aftermath of the intense battle. The echoes of their earlier clash still hung in the air, like the ghostly whisper of a song that refused to fade away. Arthur's breaths came in short bursts, his chest tight from the tension, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. He turned to see Lily, her Twin Flaming Blades now dimmed but still held tightly in her grasp, her gaze fixed warily on Raul and Kali.
Raul stood to the side, leaning on his hammer, his eyes darting between Arthur and the crystal that still glowed faintly from its place embedded in the stone. Kali, crouched beside Raul, was nursing a wound on her shoulder—nothing serious, but a reminder of just how dangerous their enemies had been.
The hooded figures were gone, vanishing into the dark mist like shadows in the night, leaving behind only questions.
