The journey back to the city was grueling. The shadows of the forest seemed to grow darker with every step, as if the Abyss was reaching out from the depths of the ley lines to touch the world above. Elara, Morgana, and Kael moved with a sense of urgency, their thoughts consumed by the implications of the ancient knowledge they had uncovered.
By the time they reached the city gates, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows over the streets. The city was unusually quiet, the earlier hum of activity replaced by a palpable tension. The wards around the city flickered with a weak glow, a sign of the strain they were under.
Kael's face was etched with worry as he approached the council chamber. "We need to inform the council immediately. The Abyss is not just a distant threat; it's actively trying to interfere with our defenses."
