The journey back to the stronghold was uneventful, but the weight of what they had discovered in the fortress hung heavy over the group. As they passed through the familiar woods and crossed the rivers that marked their territory, Elara's mind never stopped racing. The dark sorcerer was gone, but the presence he had left behind felt like a lingering shadow, growing stronger the closer they came to their destination.
By the time the stronghold's towering walls came into view, the sky had turned a deep shade of crimson, the last rays of the sun casting an eerie glow over the land. Elara's horse slowed as they approached the gates, the guards snapping to attention as they recognized their return.
"Guardian Elara!" one of the sentries called down from the gate tower. "You've made it back safely!"
