---
The silence of the valley was deafening, punctuated only by the distant groans of settling rubble. The four companions lay in the snow, their breath misting in the frigid air as they stared at the remains of the fortress. The weight of their exhaustion pressed on them like the cold itself.
Freya was the first to move, groaning as she sat up and stretched her arms. "That was a little too close for comfort. Next time, maybe warn us before you try something like that, Bob."
Bob gave her a weary smile, still gripping his sword. "I'll make sure to schedule it in next time."
Felicia pulled herself upright, her hands trembling slightly as she rubbed warmth back into them. "We destroyed the sphere, but that wasn't the heart of the corruption, was it?" Her eyes scanned the ruins, her unease plain.