The silence after the creature's defeat was unnerving. The echoes of its shrieks still lingered in the corners of Elara's mind, reverberating like the aftershocks of an earthquake. She stood motionless, the crystal still clenched tightly in her hand, its faint glow the only light in the vast, shadowy cavern. The walls loomed high above them, stretching into a darkness so thick that even the crystal's power seemed small in comparison.
Elara could feel the weight of the place pressing in on her—like the air itself was alive, watching, waiting. The cold stone underfoot was steady, but her heart raced with the instinctive knowledge that they were far from safe. Whatever force had manifested that creature, it wasn't finished with them yet.
"Is it... over?" Morgana's voice was hushed, as though speaking louder might disturb the fragile stillness that had fallen over them.
