The trio set out with a newfound sense of purpose, driven by the enigmatic stranger's words. The forest seemed to grow denser, the trees twisting into macabre sculptures that seemed to watch their every step.
As they journeyed deeper, the air thickened with an otherworldly energy. Seris could feel the Flame within her responding to this power, its presence growing stronger with each passing moment.
"What do you think we'll find at the Whispering Ruin?" Dain asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seris hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "I'm not sure, but I think it's connected to the Nexus Flame. Maybe it's a temple or a shrine, something that holds the secrets of the Flame."
The dragon, walking ahead, suddenly stopped. "We're here."
Before them lay a clearing, and in its center stood the Whispering Ruin. The structure was unlike anything Seris had ever seen – a labyrinthine complex of crumbling stone and twisted metal, its walls covered in strange, glowing runes.
As they approached, the runes began to pulse with a soft, blue light. The air was filled with a gentle, whispery voice, speaking words that only Seris could hear.
"Welcome, bearer of the Flame," the voice whispered. "We have been waiting for you."
Seris felt a shiver run down her spine. What secrets lay within the Whispering Ruin? And what lay in store for her and her companions?
To be continued..