The journey back from the Temple of the Four Elements was quieter than usual. The group, typically full of banter and shared stories, was now weighed down by the trials they had faced—and the emotional strain that had come with them.
Elara couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between her and Marcus. His resentment had been growing since the first trial, but after her success in each challenge, his jealousy had turned into bitterness. She glanced at him as they walked, but his eyes were fixed ahead, his face closed off.
Garrick, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in the air. He slowed his pace to walk beside Elara, his voice low so that only she could hear. "Marcus is struggling," he said. "The temple's trials have affected him more than we thought."
Elara sighed, her fingers brushing against the key hanging from her belt. "I know. But I don't know how to reach him. He feels like he's being left behind, like I'm surpassing him in everything."
"It's not about surpassing anyone," Garrick said gently. "You've been chosen for something greater, Elara. The temple recognized that. But Marcus… he doesn't see it that way. To him, it feels like he's losing his place."
She frowned, her heart heavy. "I don't want him to feel that way. We're a team. We've always been a team."
Garrick placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll find a way through this. But for now, focus on what's ahead. We're close to finding the fourth artifact, and we need to stay united."
Elara nodded, but her thoughts remained troubled. The burden of her legacy was already weighing on her, and now, the growing rift with Marcus felt like another crack in the foundation of their group.