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Chapter 18 - The Gathering Storm

The borderlands were vast, barren, and unforgiving. Cedric could feel the tension in the air as he and his companions made their way through the rocky terrain. The land had changed around them—what once was dense forest had given way to jagged cliffs and dry, cracked earth. There was no sign of life for miles, only the occasional gust of wind that stirred the dust at their feet.

"We've been walking for hours," Maeve muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Are we even sure we're headed in the right direction?"

Lira, walking ahead of the group, glanced back but kept her pace steady. "We're heading south, like we planned. The corruption in the land is stronger this way."

Cedric remained quiet, his mind elsewhere. Ever since they had entered the borderlands, he had felt it—a strange, twisted energy lingering in the air, like a low hum just beneath the surface of the earth. It was unlike any magic he had encountered before, and it unsettled him.

"You feel it too, don't you?" Tamsin asked quietly, walking beside him.

Cedric nodded. "There's something wrong with this place. The magic here... it's dark."

Kellen, ever the jokester, tried to lighten the mood. "Let's hope it's not too dark. I'd hate to lose my way before we find something interesting."

But even Kellen's humor couldn't shake the unease that had settled over the group. The path ahead was narrow, flanked by towering cliffs that cast long shadows over the dry ground. The air grew colder as they moved forward, and Cedric's unease deepened with every step.

"We should be careful," Lira said, her voice low. "Something's not right."

Maeve glanced around, her usual grin fading. "Yeah... it feels too quiet. Even for a place like this."

Cedric stopped, his eyes narrowing as he listened. There it was again—that faint hum, almost like the sound of magic vibrating through the earth.

"We're not alone," he murmured.

Lira's hand went to her sword. "What is it?"

Cedric knelt, pressing his palm to the ground. The hum grew louder in his mind, and a tremor rippled beneath his fingers. His heart raced. "Something's moving... underground."