Nina's voice, though still trembling, gains a newfound strength. "The Keeper hinted at a cure," she states, the words hanging in the air between her and the woman of the Emerald Order. The woman's violet eyes widen slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before settling into a thoughtful expression. She steps closer, the scent of pine and earth mingling with a fainter, almost medicinal aroma emanating from her robes.
"A cure?" she repeats, her voice low. "For what, precisely?"
Nina hesitates again, the enormity of what she's about to reveal weighing heavily on her. Ronan lets out a low rumble, a sound that seems to vibrate through the very ground beneath their feet. Rex whimpers, his tail tucked tightly between his legs.
"For the... corruption," Nina explains, choosing her words carefully. "The Keeper implied that Xalzar's influence isn't just a malevolent presence, but a kind of... sickness. A blight upon the land. And that there might be a way to heal it, to undo the damage."
The woman of the Emerald Order remains silent for a long moment, her gaze fixed on Nina. The setting sun casts long shadows across the meadow, the air growing noticeably colder. Finally, she speaks, her voice barely a whisper.
"The Whispering Woods... they are but a symptom. This sickness, this blight... it extends far beyond the borders of this forest. It has been growing for centuries, feeding on fear and despair. The Keepers... they are ancient guardians, bound to this world by an oath older than time itself. They see things we cannot comprehend, feel the pulse of the earth in ways we can only dream of."
She pauses, turning her gaze towards the darkening forest. "The cure... it is a dangerous path. One that demands sacrifice and courage beyond measure. Are you prepared, child, to embark upon such a journey?" Her violet eyes bore into Nina, assessing her resolve, weighing her worthiness for the task ahead. The weight of the unspoken hangs heavy in the air, the looming darkness of the forest mirrored by the growing shadows of the approaching night.