The forest around the Shadow Spire was eerily quiet, its silence broken only by the labored breaths of Adira and her companions. The ground beneath them still vibrated faintly, echoes of the Spire's collapse reverberating through the earth. Adira wiped the grime from her face, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The night sky was painted with the faint glow of dawn, a fragile reprieve after the chaos.
But there was no time for rest. Not yet.
"We can't stay here," Kael said, his voice sharp but tempered with concern. His blade was still drawn, its edge glinting with remnants of the battle. "If Dorian's forces regroup, we'll be their first target."
Rhea nodded, her hand glowing faintly as she patched a deep gash on Finn's arm. "He won't stop now. The nexus was only part of his plan."
"And he's furious," Kane added, sheathing his daggers with a grimace. "We just destroyed his ace. He'll be desperate."
