The lantern light stretched thin over the cracked cobblestones, barely pushing back the oppressive darkness that smothered The Hollow at night. Liora walked with measured steps, his sharp gaze cutting through the gloom. The buildings leaned in as though conspiring to close off the world, their warped wooden frames casting jagged shadows that flickered with each faltering lantern. He could feel Derrin's presence at his back, steady but tense, his boots crunching softly against the uneven ground.