Ethan emerged from the depths of the Confluence, his body exhausted but his mind sharp. The cold air of the ravine was a welcome change from the oppressive darkness he had left behind. He glanced up at the sky, where the first light of dawn was beginning to push through the clouds, casting the land in a pale, eerie glow. The ordeal had taken its toll, but he had succeeded—the entity was sealed away, its power contained, at least for now.
As he approached his horse, tethered patiently where he had left it, Ethan allowed himself a moment of reflection. The Codex of Shadows had gone blank, its pages devoid of the ancient knowledge that had guided him this far. It was as if the book had served its purpose and now lay dormant, waiting for the next guardian to awaken its secrets. Yet, that nagging sense of unease remained, a feeling that something was still amiss.
