The path back to the village was a familiar one, but this time, it was marked by an unusual silence. The group moved through the forest with a sense of purpose, yet there was an unspoken tension in the air. Each of them was lost in their thoughts, processing the gravity of their recent encounter and the weight of the orb now in Elara's possession.
The forest, once filled with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, seemed to have quieted in reverence or perhaps in anticipation of what was to come. The only sound was the steady crunch of their boots on the forest floor and the occasional snap of a twig. Elara led the way, the orb tucked securely in her pack, its power humming faintly, a reminder of the ancient forces they were now dealing with.
