The valley quieted as the winds settled for a brief respite, though the tension remained thick as molasses.
Alaric and Rosalind moved cautiously, winding their way through the thorny fields of azure lilies, whose delicate petals glimmered faintly even in the shadow of the Wyvern Hills.
The air still hummed with the residue of dark magic, though the cultists themselves had scattered, licking their wounds after the sabotage.
"Let's not linger too long," Rosalind muttered, brushing an errant lock of crimson hair from her face. Her purple eyes flickered with lingering wariness as they surveyed their surroundings. "Those Phantom Assembly lunatics might circle back, and I'm not exactly eager to test our luck."
"Relax, Rosie." Alaric flashed her a cocky grin, his red eyes gleaming in the dim light. "We outsmarted them once, didn't we? If they're stupid enough to return, I'll just introduce them to my Frozen Barrage."
