The forest began to change as the group journeyed toward the next monolith. The trees stood taller, their gnarled branches forming an almost impenetrable canopy overhead. The air was heavier here, carrying a faint metallic tang that set everyone on edge. Sunlight barely filtered through the dense leaves, casting the path in a constant state of twilight.
Mia walked at the center of the group, her hands clenched tightly around her staff. The whispers were louder now, a ceaseless hum that made her temples throb. Zoe stayed close, her knife always within reach, her gaze darting nervously between the trees.
Ruby, leading the group with Selene, spoke in hushed tones. "How much farther?" she asked, scanning the horizon for signs of danger.
"Half a day's journey, if we stay on course," Selene replied. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered to Mia. "But the energy around her... it's growing stronger."
