The moonlight bathed the stronghold in an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the walls as Elara stood alone in the courtyard. The other Guardians had dispersed, each retreating to their chambers or preparing their gear for what was to come. Yet, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her, a sensation that gnawed at the edges of her mind. The Codex hummed softly in her hands, its pages still closed, but it was far from silent in her thoughts. It was waiting, as it always did, for the next step.