The journey back to their camp from the grove of the Elders was heavy with contemplation. The words of the Elders had struck a deep chord, reshaping Kael, Morgana, and Darien's understanding of their roles. They weren't just warriors or defenders; they were part of something much larger—a cycle of light and shadow, a balance that would persist long after they were gone. The forest around them seemed to hum with life, as if sharing in their newfound awareness.
They traveled in thoughtful silence, each absorbed in the implications of the Elders' message. The knowledge that the darkness would return—not as an enemy, but as an intrinsic part of existence—brought both peace and unease. For Kael, it was a strange kind of comfort. He had been fighting against the shadows for so long, seeing them as a force to be vanquished, but now he understood that his duty was not to end them, but to contain them.
