The Guardians descended from the Cradle of Aether in silence, their minds heavy with the weight of their recent victory. The path back through the Frostfall Mountains was cold, but it felt different now. The mountains, once filled with danger and mystery, now seemed peaceful, almost as if the world itself was thanking them for restoring balance.
Elara walked at the front of the group, her thoughts distant. She couldn't shake the sense that while they had succeeded in returning the Heart of the Ley Lines, something was still incomplete. The magical energy she had felt in the Cradle lingered in her mind, as if it had left a trace—an echo of something ancient and hidden, waiting to be uncovered.
Behind her, Lyra moved with her usual grace, but her eyes constantly scanned the horizon. "I don't trust how quiet everything is," she muttered. "It feels too easy."
