The dawn brought little warmth to the castle of Eldralis. The golden hues of sunrise barely penetrated the stormy skies, casting a pale light over the war council convened in the grand hall. Evans sat at the head of the long oak table, flanked by his most trusted allies—Amara, Lorian, and Miriam. Across the table, generals and advisors argued fervently, their voices rising and overlapping like a chaotic symphony.“We cannot waste time fortifying the capital!” one general exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table. “The Shadow Lords will strike our borders first. Our forces should be deployed there immediately.”“And leave the heart of the kingdom undefended?” countered an elder advisor, his face etched with worry. “The people look to Eldralis for protection. If it falls, so does their hope.”Evans raised a hand, silencing the room. His gaze swept across the table, his expression calm but resolute. “Both of you make valid points,” he said. “But we cannot aff

The faint glow of dawn did little to brighten the mood in the camp. Soldiers moved silently, tending to wounds, gathering the fallen, and fortifying their defenses around the reclaimed fortress. The air was thick with sorrow and exhaustion, but also determination.Evans stood atop the crumbling walls of Torath Keep, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The victory over the Shadow Lord had been hard-won, but the cost weighed heavily on his shoulders. He could still hear the anguished cries of the dying, the screams of soldiers calling out for loved ones who would never hear them again.Miriam approached, leaning heavily on her staff. She looked as drained as he felt, her usual sharp gaze clouded with fatigue.“You need rest,” she said, her voice soft.“So do you,” he replied, not looking at her. “But we both know that won’t happen anytime soon.”Miriam sighed, leaning against the wall beside him. “The Shadow Lords are adapting. That ambush wasn’

The following days were a blur of preparation. The camp had shifted into a fortress of determination, soldiers honing their skills, smiths forging weapons, and Miriam studying the shard's ominous energy for weaknesses. Yet, a tension lingered in the air—an unspoken fear of what awaited them in the Sanctum of Eldralis.Evans stood by the edge of the camp, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where jagged peaks loomed like sentinels. Those mountains held the sanctum, a place shrouded in legend and danger. It was said that only those with unbreakable will could survive its trials, and even they often emerged forever changed.“Lost in thought?” Amara’s voice pulled him back. She stood beside him, her daggers sheathed but her stance ready.“Just trying to prepare for what’s coming,” Evans replied, his tone heavy.She smirked. “You can’t prepare for everything, you know. Sometimes, you just have to jump in and figure it out along the way.”“Th

Kael’s blade struck with deadly precision, slicing through the air as Evans barely parried the blow. Sparks erupted between their swords, the clash reverberating through the chamber."Kael, you don’t have to do this!" Evans shouted, his voice strained as he pushed back against the force of Kael’s strike.Kael sneered, his shadow-infused eyes burning with malice. "Do you think your words can save me now, brother? The crown demands sacrifice, and you are its greatest offering."The rest of the group sprang into action. Amara darted to Evans’s side, her daggers flashing as she aimed for Kael’s exposed flank. Kael spun effortlessly, deflecting her attack and sending her sprawling with a dark wave of energy.Miriam extended her hands, chanting under her breath as she summoned a protective barrier around the group. "He’s stronger than before. This magic—it’s ancient and deeply corrupted."Evans gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "We’ll stop hi

The ground rumbled beneath their feet as the dark tendrils continued to rise, coiling and twisting around the crumbling ruins of the temple. Evans’s heart pounded in his chest as the eerie hum of ancient magic filled the air. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the rising darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path."We need to move!" Lorian shouted, his face pale with fear. "We can’t stay here!"Evans’s mind raced. The figure—whoever he was—had warned them, and now they were caught in something far beyond their understanding. The ancient darkness was awakening, and there was no turning back."Come on!" Amara urged, grabbing Evans’s arm and pulling him toward the edge of the temple. "We can’t fight this here. We need to regroup and figure out our next move."But Evans couldn’t move. His gaze remained fixed on the swirling shadows, and his thoughts drifted back to the cryptic words of the ho