The return journey to Vaelenor was eerily silent. Amara, Kirin, and Elias traveled under the shadow of what had transpired in the mountains. The air felt different now, heavier, as though the weight of the ancient oaths pressed down on all of them. But it was Amara who carried the true burden, and it showed in her quiet demeanor, the way her steps faltered ever so slightly, as if she were walking not just on the earth but between the threads of fate themselves.
Kirin had tried to break the silence several times, but each attempt died on his lips. He watched Amara carefully, noting the way her eyes seemed distant, fixed on something far beyond their immediate surroundings.
It wasn't until they crossed into the familiar woods that surrounded Vaelenor that Elias finally spoke.
"You're different," he said, his voice soft but filled with a quiet urgency. "I can feel it. The balance has changed, hasn't it?"
