As Kael and the party began to leave the clearing, the stark transformation became painfully clear. What had once been a serene cove filled with lush, vibrant flowers and towering trees was now a scene of decay. The once-golden blossoms that had swayed gently in the breeze were shriveled and blackened, their petals curling inward like dead things. The grass, which had felt soft and cool beneath their feet, was now brittle and gray, crunching underfoot like dried bones.
Lireal paused at the edge of the clearing, her brow furrowing. "It was so beautiful... how did we not see this before?" Her voice was quiet, tinged with sadness as she knelt to touch the withered remains of a flower. The stem crumbled in her hand, turning to dust as though it had been rotting for years.
Aldric shook his head, eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings. "We were blind to it. That tree… it was feeding on us, using the magic of this place to trap us." He kicked a decayed branch aside, the once-lush foliage now nothing more than a brittle husk.
Nyxara crossed her arms, her eyes glowing faintly with the residual energy of her own magic. "It was more than just a trap. This place was cursed—infected by something dark. It twisted everything here into an illusion of peace, but it was rotting from the inside."
Kael turned back for a moment, his gaze settling on the heart of the clearing, where the massive tree stood. Its bark, which had once shimmered with life and light, was now cracked and blackened, the runes he had carved still faintly glowing against the dead wood. It was a haunting reminder of how close they had come to losing themselves completely.
"Whatever did this... it's tied to the ruins," Kael said, his voice low. "The same energy that twisted this place is coming from them. We need to keep moving, and we need to be ready for more of this."
As they stepped out of the clearing, the air around them seemed heavier, tainted with the scent of decay. The once-beautiful haven had become a blighted scar in the heart of the forest, infected by something sinister and ancient.
None of them looked back as they pressed on. The haunting image of the once-vibrant clearing, now reduced to rot, lingered in their minds—a grim reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.