The dawn broke reluctantly, its light struggling to pierce the oppressive fog that clung to the village. The air carried an unnatural chill, and the silence that had settled after the villagers' rescue was heavy with unease. Elara stood at the edge of the forest, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Somewhere beyond the trees, the next rift awaited, a wound in the fabric of their world that demanded their attention.
Nyssa approached quietly, her movements as light as the breeze. "We should move soon. This place feels... tainted."
Elara nodded but didn't turn. "It is. Even though we severed the connection, the abyss left its mark. The people here might recover, but the land…" She trailed off, her voice heavy.
Nyssa crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "Then we burn it if we have to. Better scorched earth than a foothold for the abyss."
