Chapter 29: The Veil of Shadows

The victory in the Echoing Caves had infused Ariadne and her companions with renewed energy, but this rest was very short-lived. This calm that succeeded the triumph of their mission was but a lull before the storm—had the Void Lord been nearer than ever, their quest to win over other sanctuaries increasingly urgent.

Back in the capital, Ariadne called an emergency council of war. The tension was almost palpable as all the advisors packed into the room, their faces lined with concern. The air hummed with anticipation; it pressed on every single man there—the weight of the task before them.

"We have secured three sanctuaries," Ariadne began, her voice only slightly quivering with pressure. "But the forces of the Void Lord are getting bolder by the minute. We need to find the remaining and protect it if we ever hope to secure our realm's survival."

Thalia was poring over ancient texts; she looked up with furrowed brows. "Prophecies are getting clearer, though darker. They claim the last