The morning light bathed the landscape in a gentle glow as Alaric and his friends made their way back to their temporary camp. Exhaustion tugged at their every step, but the thrill of their recent victory provided a much-needed boost of energy. They had managed to seal the Shadow Nexus, and for the moment, it felt as though a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
As they reached the camp, Lyra immediately set about preparing a small fire, while Marcus and Thalia took to organizing their gear. Alaric sat down on a nearby log, rubbing his temples to ease the lingering tension from their battle with the Shadow Keeper. Adrian, noticing his friend's weariness, sat down beside him.
"How are you holding up?" Adrian asked, concern evident in his voice.
"I'm managing," Alaric replied, forcing a small smile. "It's just... everything with the illusions, it messed with my head. But I'll be fine."
