As they journeyed onward, Eryndor began to reveal more of the world's state. The peace Arin had known in his village was an illusion—beyond the quiet fields of Eldersglade, the kingdoms were on the brink of collapse. The Nightborn had been attacking isolated villages, just like Eldersglade, across the land. Their numbers were growing, and worse, rumors spread that Morvath's prison, deep within the earth, was weakening.
"Every day he grows stronger," Eryndor explained, his voice grim. "And when he breaks free, there will be no kingdom left that can stand against him. Unless we find a way to stop him first."
Arin struggled to keep up with the weight of the revelations. It was one thing to know there were monsters in the dark, but to learn that the entire realm was on the verge of falling apart was another. As they crossed into the borders of the neighboring kingdom of Valenmoor, Arin saw firsthand the fear that had gripped the land. Villages had been abandoned, crops left to rot, and everywhere they traveled, people whispered of the coming darkness.
For the first time, Arin began to understand the gravity of what lay ahead.