The dense forest swallowed them as they ventured deeper, the tall trees blotting out the sunlight and casting long, wavering shadows across their path. The atmosphere was heavy with the scent of earth and damp leaves, the occasional chirp of a bird or rustle of unseen creatures the only sounds breaking the stillness. Each step felt like it took them further from the world they knew and deeper into a realm where the lines between reality and the unknown blurred.
Ethan led the way, his senses on high alert, every shadow a potential threat, every whisper of wind a reminder of the dangers lurking just out of sight. The weight of the Heart's power still lingered within him, an ever-present hum in his veins, but he tried to push it to the back of his mind. There would be time to understand it later—for now, their focus had to be on staying ahead of the Assembly and finding a place of safety.
