The morning arrived shrouded in mist, the forest quiet and oppressive as the group made their final preparations to head deeper into the wilderness. The battle from the night before left them exhausted, but the urgency of their mission drove them forward. There was no time to waste. Valrath was close, hidden somewhere in the tangled depths ahead, and the Void's forces were growing more brazen with every step they took.
Elara moved through the camp, checking supplies and exchanging a few quiet words with the others. She could see the weariness in their eyes—Kael's jaw was set in a determined line, while Arian's normally calm demeanor was tinged with unease. Morgana, still drained from her magical exertion, walked with slower, deliberate steps, her face pale beneath her hood. Even the soldiers who had joined them wore the hollow expressions of men who had faced something far beyond their understanding.
