As dawn broke over the weary village, Kael, Morgana, and Elarion stood among the ruins left by the night's shadows. The villagers, those who remained, began to emerge from their homes, faces gaunt and eyes wide with haunted memories. Each expression bore the mark of what they had witnessed, yet their resilience flickered like embers, hopeful but wary.
Kael addressed them, his voice calm and resolute. "The void's influence here has weakened, but I won't lie—its reach grows stronger every day. We can hold it back, but we need your strength, too."
One by one, villagers stepped forward. Some were hesitant, clinging to fragments of hope, while others approached with hardened resolve, grasping the hands of loved ones they'd feared lost.
"We'll fight with you," said a villager, an older man with a scarred face and steady gaze. His words seemed to act as a spark; soon, murmurs of agreement rose from the crowd.
