The world outside the Celestial Forge was much darker than it had seemed before. As Elionna and Azrael stepped from the clearing, a heavy cloud seemed to hang over the sky, dimming the once bright sunlight. The air was thick with a sense of impending doom, and Elionna felt a deep unease settle in her chest.
Azrael's gaze swept the horizon, his eyes narrowing. "The Dark Star's influence is already spreading. It feeds on fear, on suffering. And it will not rest until it has consumed everything."
Elionna's heart raced as she thought about her home, her family, the village that had once been her sanctuary. "Will the Dark Star come here? Will it destroy everything?"
Azrael gave her a stern look. "It has already begun. The corruption will spread quickly, affecting both the land and its people. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to stop."
A chill ran down Elionna's spine as she realized the gravity of the situation. "What can we do? How can we stop it?"
Azrael's voice was low and grim. "We must find the Starblade. The Celestial Sword you saw in your vision. It is the only weapon capable of defeating the Dark Star. The Starblade was forged in the heart of the Forge itself, imbued with the light of the stars. But it has been hidden for centuries, waiting for the one worthy to wield it."
Elionna's eyes widened as she recalled the dream—the sword, gleaming with otherworldly light, calling to her. "You mean the sword I saw in my dream? The one that spoke to me?"
Azrael nodded. "That is the Starblade. It is your destiny to wield it, Elionna. But first, you must find it."
Elionna felt a surge of determination pulse through her. The fear, the uncertainty—it was all still there, but so was a growing sense of purpose. "Where do we start?"
Azrael turned and began to walk, gesturing for Elionna to follow. "There is a hidden temple in the mountains. It is there that the Starblade rests. But the journey will be perilous. The Dark Star's minions are already searching for it, and they will stop at nothing to ensure that you never reach it."
Elionna took a deep breath, steeling herself. The path ahead was uncertain, but she knew now that she couldn't turn back. "Then we leave at once."
As they walked through the forest, a sense of urgency settled in. The stars had chosen her, and there was no turning away from that choice. With every step, Elionna could feel the power within her growing stronger—like a fire that had just begun to ignite, lighting the way ahead.