The Guardian's departure left an eerie stillness, the weight of its words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Elara led the group out of the chamber, her steps heavy with unspoken questions. They had just faced what they believed to be the end of all things, only to find it was a prelude to something far worse.
The corridor ahead was dimly lit, its walls adorned with faintly glowing runes. Kade broke the silence first, his voice tinged with frustration. "Did it have to be so cryptic? Couldn't it have just told us where the rifts are?"
Morgana snorted, her fingers tracing a rune absentmindedly as she walked. "Beings like that thrive on ambiguity. If they handed us all the answers, it would take away the challenge, wouldn't it?"
"Challenge?" Kade shot back, his voice rising. "This isn't a game, Morgana. We're talking about the entire world unraveling!"
