The tension in the watchtower hung heavy, the weight of the Oracle's message sinking in. Aran paced back and forth, the orb clutched tightly in his hand, its once-dull glow now extinguished. His mind raced with the urgency of their new mission—the Sanctum of the Lost. The Oracle had said it was their only hope, but they knew nothing about where it was or how to reach it.
Lyssa stood by the doorway, her blades drawn, ever watchful of their surroundings. "So, we're chasing after some ancient sanctum now? Do we even know where it is?"
Aran shook his head. "No. But the Oracle wouldn't have mentioned it if we didn't stand a chance of finding it."
Edward, still recovering from their earlier ordeal, leaned against the wall, his face pale. "We're running out of time. The wards won't hold the wraiths off forever. If they catch up with us before we reach this sanctum, it's over."
Seraphina stepped forward, her eyes steady and focused. "We need to act now. If this place exists, there must be some record of it somewhere. Old maps, ancient tomes—something that can guide us."
Aran nodded. "Agreed. But we don't have the luxury of scouring libraries. We need something immediate."
Lyssa's brow furrowed in thought. "There might be someone who knows. The Sanctum of the Lost—it sounds like the kind of place scholars or hermits might seek out. There's an old sage who lives on the outskirts of the Arcanis Continent. If anyone knows about this place, it's him."
Edward's eyes lit up with recognition. "You mean the Seer of Avenmor? He's supposed to be a recluse, but his knowledge of ancient sites is unparalleled."
"Yes," Lyssa confirmed. "He's hard to find, but I've heard whispers that he can see things others can't. If he's still alive, he might be our best chance."
Aran clenched his fist, determination flaring within him. "Then we head to Avenmor. If the Seer can point us toward the Sanctum, we have to risk it."
Seraphina sheathed her sword, her gaze shifting toward the door. "How far is Avenmor from here?"
Lyssa's expression was grim. "It's not close. Days of travel on foot, maybe longer if the weather turns. But it's in the wilderness, away from the cities, which might buy us time. The wraiths will have a harder time tracking us through uncharted territory."
Edward, still visibly shaken, added, "And we'll need to be cautious. If this sanctum is important to the Void, we won't be the only ones looking for it."
Aran looked to each of them in turn. "We've been through worse. We'll make it." He paused, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "But I need to make something clear—if we reach the Seer and he does know where the Sanctum is, this could be our last chance. Whatever we find there… it's either going to save us or doom us."
The group shared a moment of silence, the gravity of their situation hanging heavy in the air. There was no turning back now.
---
**The Journey Begins**
They left the watchtower at dawn, the mist still lingering in the air but held at bay by the wards Edward had cast. The chill of the early morning nipped at their skin as they trekked deeper into the wilderness. The dense forest surrounding them seemed more oppressive than before, the trees towering like silent sentinels, their shadows stretching long across the uneven ground.
Aran led the way, his senses sharp, every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves setting his nerves on edge. The wraiths hadn't crossed the river, but that didn't mean they wouldn't find another way. They had to stay ahead, keep moving.
Lyssa moved beside him, her blades never far from her hands. "You seem quieter than usual," she observed, her tone more curious than accusatory.
Aran glanced at her. "I'm thinking about what the Oracle said. This Sanctum isn't just some hidden temple. It's a key to stopping the Void. But I can't help but wonder… why us? Why was the orb left for me?"
Lyssa shrugged, her eyes scanning the trees as they walked. "Sometimes the universe doesn't give you a choice. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was chance. Either way, we're in this now. You're in this."
Aran's gaze drifted to the orb in his hand. The dull surface gave nothing away, but he could feel its power stirring faintly, like a heartbeat. Whatever the Sanctum held, he knew it was tied to the orb. The Oracle had warned of the Void's agents, and if they were truly after the orb, then it wasn't just their lives at stake—it was the world.
Edward, trailing a bit behind, caught up to them. His breathing was labored from the hike, but his mind was as sharp as ever. "I've been thinking about the Void," he said, his voice low so the others wouldn't hear. "The wraiths we encountered—they're just the beginning. If what the Oracle said is true, the full force of the Void could be so much worse."
Aran nodded. "Which is why we have to reach the Sanctum before they do."
The rest of the day passed in relative silence. They followed the river's edge for as long as they could, the rushing water providing a natural barrier against any potential pursuit. As the sun dipped low in the sky, casting the forest in an eerie golden light, they finally reached a clearing where they could set up camp.
Seraphina gathered wood for a fire while Lyssa scouted the perimeter. Edward sat down, pulling out an old map from his pack and tracing their route with his finger.
"We're still a good distance from Avenmor," he said, his brow furrowed in concentration. "At this pace, it'll take us at least three more days, maybe four if the terrain gets worse."
Aran stared at the map, his mind already racing ahead. They didn't have time for delays, but they also couldn't risk pushing too hard and exhausting themselves.
"Rest for tonight," Aran said, making the decision. "We'll push harder tomorrow, but we can't afford to be careless. If the Void's agents are out there, they'll strike when we're weakest."
The fire crackled softly, the warmth a small comfort in the cold night air. Lyssa returned from her scouting, sitting down by the fire without a word, her face hard and unreadable. Seraphina sat beside her, sharpening her sword with methodical precision.
As the night wore on, Aran found himself staring up at the stars. The Oracle's warning echoed in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them, even now. The shadows seemed deeper, the forest quieter than it should be.
"Do you think we'll make it?" Edward asked quietly from across the fire, his voice carrying a note of uncertainty.
Aran didn't answer immediately. His mind was still on the Oracle's words, on the Sanctum and the unknown dangers ahead. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady. "We have to."
The fire flickered, casting long shadows across the clearing, and in the distance, the wind howled through the trees. Tomorrow, their journey to the Sanctum of the Lost would continue, but for now, they rested.
The Void, however, was far from idle.