The forest grew denser as the group moved forward, the thick canopy above blocking out the moonlight, leaving them in near-darkness. Shadows shifted around them, cast by the faint glow of Lyra’s device as she scanned for the next surge of storm energy. Their silence was heavy, punctuated only by their footsteps and the soft hum of residual magic lingering in the air.Kael led the way, his jaw clenched with a focus that kept the fatigue from showing. Naya walked close behind him, gripping her staff tightly, her eyes alert for any movement. The struggle against the storm’s whispers still lingered in her mind, but she felt a newfound resilience building within her. For the first time, she felt she could resist—not alone, but because her companions were beside her.Korrin swooped down from above, landing quietly beside them. “Path’s clear for now, but I don’t trust this silence. It feels like we’re walking straight into a trap.”Vira nodded, her bow ready. “It’s too quiet. The storm’s hol

The group pressed onward through the forest, the night stretching on with a heavy stillness. Though they had repelled the storm's followers, a sense of impending danger lingered like the weight of an unseen shadow. Each step through the dense underbrush felt as though they were drawing closer to an unseen edge, a point of no return.Kael led the way, sword in hand, his expression hardened with purpose. Vira followed closely, her bow ready, her sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings. Korrin hovered above, his wings nearly silent as he kept watch, while Lyra studied the faint signals on her device, ever vigilant for more signs of storm energy. Naya walked in the center, her staff glowing faintly, its magic a quiet comfort against the storm’s incessant whispers.But tonight, the whispers felt different. Instead of calling her toward power, they murmured with an almost plaintive tone, as if the storm itself had something it needed her to understand.“Do you hear that?” she asked suddenly, b

The air felt lighter as the group stood around the Shattered Spire, the storm’s energy now dissipated, leaving a profound silence that filled the forest. The oppressive weight that had followed them for days had lifted, and for the first time, Naya felt something close to peace. She lowered her staff, her shoulders relaxing as she absorbed the magnitude of what they had just accomplished.Kael sheathed his sword, his gaze softening as he looked at Naya. “You did it, Naya,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet pride that resonated with everyone around him. “You freed the storm.”Naya smiled, but it was a tired smile, weighed down by the journey she’d taken within herself. “We freed it,” she corrected gently, looking at each of them in turn. “I couldn’t have done it alone.”Vira rested her bow, letting out a long breath. “So... what happens now? If the storm is no longer under control, does that mean our fight is over?”Lyra, who had been watching her device for any lingering traces o

The forest thickened around them as they pressed forward, following the faint traces of energy that lingered like footprints in the damp soil. Every so often, Lyra would pause, her device humming as it captured the residual magic left by their mysterious adversary. It was clear now that the storm’s power had only been a fraction of the threat looming over them.Kael led the way, his movements silent but purposeful. He scanned the trees, alert to the shadows and any movement that could signify an ambush. Vira stayed close to him, her bow nocked with an arrow, her gaze sharp and unyielding. Behind them, Naya and Korrin walked side by side, the storm’s energy still pulsing faintly within Naya as a steady, grounding force.Lyra’s device gave a quiet beep, signaling a stronger trace. She stopped, glancing around cautiously before looking back at the group. “The energy’s getting stronger,” she whispered. “We’re close.”Kael nodded. “Stay sharp. If they’re as powerful as we’ve seen, they’ll