The days that followed their return from the Elders' grove were filled with a strange calm. Though the knowledge they had gained was weighty, Kael, Morgana, and Darien found themselves adjusting to a quieter pace, allowing their minds and bodies to recuperate. Yet, within the stillness, there was an undeniable undercurrent—a sense that something was shifting in the world around them.
As the autumn air grew crisper and the leaves began to fall in fiery shades, the camp was alive with activity. Scouts returned with reports from distant lands, sharing news of villages and towns that had felt the recent disturbances. Rumors swirled, stories of strange happenings and sightings of creatures unlike any they had encountered before. It seemed the balance was indeed shifting, just as the Elders had warned.
