As the group departed the Blackwood Forest, their spirits were buoyed by the destruction of the first Nexus Point. However, the weight of their remaining tasks loomed large, and each step toward their next destination was both a triumph and a reminder of the formidable challenges still ahead.
Their journey took them to the outskirts of a small village nestled between rolling hills and thick woodlands. The village, once a bustling community, now lay in partial ruin. The remnants of homes and farms were overgrown with weeds, and the villagers moved with a subdued air, their eyes weary and distrustful.
Elara and her companions entered the village cautiously, mindful of the recent traumas suffered by its people. They were greeted with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity as they made their way to the village center. It was there that they encountered the village elder, a woman named Lyra, who stood as a bridge between the old ways and the new threats.
