The remnants of their battle still clung to the clearing like a bad dream. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the earth, though no longer pulsing with dark energy, felt dead underfoot. Emily stared at the spot where the robed figure had disappeared, his words echoing in her mind. *This isn't over. The seals are breaking.*
Aiden stood beside her, his sword sheathed but his hand still resting on the hilt, eyes scanning the shadows. Mira was crouched, her hands on her knees, catching her breath. The magic they had used to destroy the runes had drained them both, and the toll was evident in Mira's labored breathing and the pale exhaustion on Emily's face.
"We need to move," Aiden said, breaking the silence, his voice low but firm. "If he's right about the other seals—"
