The morning air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and lingering embers. Emily awoke to the sound of muted voices outside their inn, a growing murmur that made her pulse quicken. She pulled herself out of bed and moved to the window, peering through the cracked glass. Below, a crowd had gathered, their faces painted with fear and desperation.
Alaric and Mira were already awake, studying the scene with matching frowns. "Word travels fast," Mira muttered, tightening the strap on her quiver. "People are starting to panic."
"Can you blame them?" Emily replied. "We've opened the door to the Abyss, and now the world is starting to see what lies beyond it."
Alaric turned away from the window, his expression somber. "We need to do something. We can't let this fear spread unchecked."
Mira nodded. "But what? We've barely scratched the surface of what the Abyss is capable of. We're fighting something we don't even fully understand."
