As the group descended from the treacherous heights of the Shadowspine Mountains, a new obstacle loomed before them. The narrow path they followed began to widen, revealing a sight that made Elara's breath catch in her throat. Stretching before them, as far as the eye could see, was a river unlike any she had ever encountered. Its surface gleamed an unsettling crimson in the dim light, flowing with a viscosity that spoke of its true nature.
The Blood River.
Elara had heard whispers of this boundary between the twilight realm and the true Shadow Lands, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality. The air grew thick with a metallic scent that made her stomach churn. She found herself frozen in place, her eyes fixed on the crimson flow.
Lord Draven's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Princess Elara," he said, his tone gentler than she had come to expect. "I know this must be... unsettling for you."
