The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver beams through the high windows of the royal library. Anya, Margaret, Celia, and Leila gathered around a map spread across the table, its edges weighed down by candlesticks and books. The room, once silent, now buzzed with the urgency of their mission.
Leila tapped the map with her finger. "If the Shadowstone exists, it will likely be hidden in the forgotten parts of the kingdom—places no one dares to tread anymore."
Margaret frowned, her eyes scanning the map. "You mean the shadowed lands?"
Celia's brow furrowed. "That place is a wasteland. No one's ventured there in decades, and for good reason. It's said to be cursed."
Leila looked up, her expression grim. "That's exactly why it would be the perfect hiding place. No one would look there, and if the legends are true, the Shadowstone's power would thrive in such darkness."
Anya stared at the map, her mind racing. "The shadowed lands are vast. If we're to search them, we need a more specific starting point."
Leila pulled out an old, faded book she had taken from the archives. "I found this earlier. It's a record of an expedition to the shadowed lands nearly a century ago. The explorers mentioned encountering ruins—an ancient temple said to house something of great power."
Margaret leaned closer, her voice low. "A temple?"
Leila nodded. "Yes. It was abandoned, of course, but they described carvings on the walls—symbols that match those associated with the shadow's pact."
Celia crossed her arms. "So we're supposed to march into cursed lands, find a crumbling temple, and hope this stone is still there?"
Anya met her sister's gaze, determination in her eyes. "Do you have a better idea? This is our only lead, Celia."
---
Preparations for the journey began immediately. The sisters and Leila decided to keep their plan secret, even from the queen. Too much was at stake, and they couldn't risk anyone interfering.
Under the cover of darkness, they slipped out of the palace, disguised as travelers. Margaret led the group, her calm demeanor masking the turmoil within. Anya followed, her heart pounding with both fear and anticipation. Leila carried the book and map, while Celia brought supplies and a blade concealed beneath her cloak.
The shadowed lands lay far beyond the kingdom's borders, a barren expanse where no light seemed to reach. As they approached, the once clear night sky grew heavy with clouds, and an eerie silence enveloped them.
Leila stopped, holding up a hand. "We're close. The ruins should be just ahead."
Anya squinted into the distance, spotting jagged shapes rising from the ground. "Is that… the temple?"
Margaret nodded. "It must be."
---
The temple stood as a testament to a forgotten age, its blackened stones etched with strange, glowing symbols. The air was thick, as if the shadows themselves were alive and watching.
Celia shivered. "This place feels… wrong."
Anya stepped forward, her voice steady. "We didn't come all this way to turn back now."
Inside the temple, the air grew colder. The walls were covered in carvings depicting the shadow—its tendrils reaching toward kneeling figures. At the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, and atop it rested a stone that seemed to pulse with a dark, inner light.
"The Shadowstone," Leila whispered.
Margaret approached cautiously, her hand hovering over the stone. "It's… smaller than I expected."
"Don't touch it!" Leila warned. "The texts say it's dangerous—its power can corrupt even the strongest minds."
Anya stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the stone. "Then how do we take it back? We can't just leave it here."
Leila pulled out a cloth-lined box. "This should contain its power—at least temporarily. But once we take it, we need to move quickly. The shadow will know."
Margaret placed the stone in the box, and as the lid closed, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The symbols on the walls flared to life, and a low, rumbling sound filled the air.
"We need to leave. Now!" Celia shouted
As they fled the temple, the shadows seemed to follow, twisting and writhing like living things. The group barely escaped as the ruins collapsed behind them, sending a plume of dust and darkness into the sky.
When they finally stopped to catch their breath, Leila looked back at the ruined temple. "It knows. The shadow knows we have it."
Anya clutched the box tightly. "Then we need to act fast. We've bought ourselves some time, but this is far from over."
Margaret placed a hand on Anya's shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. But first, we need to get this back to the palace and figure out how to use it against the shadow."
The sisters and Leila exchanged determined glances. Their journey had only just begun, and the stakes had never been higher.