Kael's boots crunched against the loose gravel outside the Shadowfang Mines, the mist curling around his ankles like a restless creature. The swirling fog seemed almost alive, weaving through the jagged rocks and coiling around the weathered entrance to the mines like fingers reaching for prey. The faint glow of his enchanted lantern barely managed to pierce the dense haze, its trembling light casting crooked, flickering shadows on the craggy walls ahead.
Each step Kael took felt heavier than the last. The chill in the air wasn't just cold—it was invasive, seeping through his layers of clothing and settling deep in his bones. There was a sour stench that hung in the atmosphere, faintly metallic, like something long dead and rotting just beyond sight. It clung to every breath he took, a constant reminder of the danger lurking within.
