After the terrifying discovery in the cave and the unsettling release of dark energy, Hiro and Ronan tried to resume their daily lives, but something had changed. Hiro felt a growing tension within him, an unexplainable pull toward the darkness. Strange occurrences began plaguing the village: crops withered overnight, eerie whispers echoed through the air, and a deep sense of unease spread among the villagers.
One night, while they were discussing their next steps in their partially built base, a mysterious visitor arrived. Elandor, a hooded figure, introduced himself as a wandering sage and claimed to have knowledge of the dark powers they had unwittingly unleashed. His presence was calming, yet something about him felt ancient, as if he had seen far more than he let on.
Elandor recounted a vague and ancient tale about a great darkness that once threatened the world, a power so immense it had to be sealed away in a crystal deep beneath the earth. According to him, this crystal was broken during their exploration of the cave, and now the dark energy had been set free.
"I have seen this darkness before," Elandor said with a somber tone. "Long ago, I was part of a group that fought to protect the world from such evil. We sacrificed everything to contain it."
With no real leads to follow and still shaken by the strange events, Hiro and Ronan reluctantly agreed to listen to him. Elandor seemed to know more about this ancient evil than anyone they had encountered so far, and they desperately needed guidance. He explained that the dark energy within the crystal could corrupt those who came into contact with it—slowly turning them into vessels of its power.
As Hiro felt the growing darkness within him, worry gnawed at his heart. Elandor reassured him, "You were strong enough to survive the encounter with the crystal. That means you might also be strong enough to control it." Though the words were meant to comfort him, a sense of dread lingered in the air.
While Ronan remained more cautious and began to harbor doubts about Elandor's vague answers and cryptic warnings, Hiro found himself drawn to the sage's calm presence and apparent wisdom. Elandor spoke of the danger spreading across the land and urged them to help him "contain" the dark energy before it consumed everything.
The village's condition worsened with each passing day, and more strange events unfolded, making it impossible for Hiro and Ronan to ignore the threat. Elandor offered to guide them to hidden locations where fragments of the dark energy might still be contained. The players decided to trust him—for now.
Following Elandor's guidance, they traveled to ancient ruins and forgotten places, learning more about the mysterious forces at play. However, Elandor never fully revealed his past, keeping much of his story shrouded in mystery. Each time they questioned him, his answers were brief, and his knowledge seemed just a little too convenient.
As Hiro grew increasingly attuned to the dark energy, Ronan began to suspect something was off about Elandor. Tension mounted between the trio, but for the moment, they remained united by their desire to stop the spreading corruption—each with their own reasons for fighting.
In the distance, a storm brewed, signaling that their true battle was only just beginning.