The sea was eerily calm after the storm's retreat, its surface a mirror of dark glass reflecting the faintest traces of dawn. The crew, exhausted and shaken, moved quietly about the ship, tending to the damage left in the storm's wake. The air was thick with tension, the quiet aftermath of their encounter with the storm-beast leaving an unspoken dread in everyone's minds.
Elara stood at the bow of the ship, staring out over the horizon. The Blade of Eternity rested at her side, its light dimmed but still pulsing faintly, a silent reminder of the power she wielded and the responsibility that came with it. She hadn't spoken since the creature's warning echoed in her mind, the words still ringing in her ears: **The forces you've unleashed will not be contained.**
She could feel it too. The balance of the world had shifted, and not in their favor.
"Captain," Lyra's voice was quiet as she approached, her face still pale from the ordeal. "Are you alright?"
