Kael emerged from the tunnels as the first rays of sunlight pierced the dense forest canopy. The world above felt brighter than he remembered, the sky vivid with early morning hues. The weight of the void's presence still clung to him, like a shadow that wouldn't leave. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the encounter. There would be time to recover later; for now, he had work to do.
Back in Valtoria, Morgana and Isolde were already waiting. They stood in the council chamber, the heavy oak doors closed against the bustling noise of the citadel's main hall. Morgana had an array of old maps and scrolls spread across the table, while Isolde was pacing, her face a mask of concentration.
Kael greeted them with a nod as he entered, setting his sword on the table with a weary sigh. "I found the Shadow Weavers," he said, voice low and grim. "They're real, and they're as dangerous as the void itself."
