The feast lingered in Arak's mind long after the fire had died down. As the embers glowed softly, illuminating the faces of his tribe, he felt a stirring within him, a longing that refused to be quelled. While the others basked in the warmth of shared stories and laughter, his thoughts wandered beyond the safety of their encampment, toward the shadows that lay beyond the trees—the forbidden ruins.
"You're quiet," Lyra observed, nudging him playfully as they sat side by side. "What are you thinking about? More stories of the Sky Lords?"
"Not just stories," Arak replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if there's truth in them? What if the ruins hold answers?"
Lyra rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "You're not seriously thinking of going there, are you? You know the elders say it's cursed. No one who enters ever returns the same."
"That's just what they say to keep us from wandering too far," Arak countered, the excitement in his chest growing. "What if we find something—something that could change our lives?"
Lyra sighed, torn between her instinct to caution him and the thrill of adventure that sparkled in his eyes. "You're always looking for trouble. What if we get caught?"
"We won't get caught if we're careful," he assured her, a determined look on his face. "It'll be an adventure, Lyra! Just think of what we could discover."
As the stars twinkled overhead, the weight of the night pressed down on him, urging him toward the unknown. He could almost hear the ruins calling to him, whispering secrets of the past. Finally, Lyra relented, a smile creeping onto her face despite her reservations. "Fine. But if we get caught, it's your fault."