The wind had shifted as they sailed away from the submerged ruins of Lontis, the second Stone of Water now secured in Lena's hands. The waves, once calm, now churned beneath them, as if the ocean itself had sensed the change. Aria steered the boat with skill, her expression set in determination, but Lena could see the weariness in her eyes. The journey was taking its toll on them both.
"What's next?" Lena asked, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and curiosity. "We have the Stone of Fire, the Stone of Water… What's left?"
"The Stone of Earth," Aria answered, her voice firm but laced with caution. "It is the most difficult to obtain. It lies deep within the caves of the Highlands, in a place where even the bravest fear to tread. The creatures that guard it are not like those you've faced before. They are ancient, bound to the very heart of the land itself."
Lena nodded grimly, understanding the weight of Aria's words. Earth was the foundation of all, the very essence of strength and stability. If the Stone of Earth was as formidable as the creatures guarding it, then the final trial would be nothing like the ones she had faced already.