Riven's POV
I trudged through the winding paths of the mountain, my legs aching and my body exhausted. 41 days of cultivating had taken its toll on me, and I could feel the fatigue seeping into my bones.
Thane and Zarek walked beside me, their faces etched with similar exhaustion. We had pushed ourselves to the limit, and now it was time to rest and recover.
As we approached the palace, I could feel a sense of relief wash over me. The familiar walls and comforting scents of home enveloped me, and I knew that I was exactly where I needed to be.
"Welcome back, my lord," Zarek said, his voice low and respectful. "Shall I prepare a bath for you?"
I nodded, my eyes already half-closed in anticipation. "Please, Zarek. And make sure it's hot."
Thane chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're going to turn into a prune, Riven."
I shot him a lazy glance, a hint of a smile on my face. "Shut up, Thane."
Zarek bowed, a hint of a smile on his face. "I'll make sure the bath is ready, my lord."
I watched as Zarek disappeared into the palace, my mind already drifting towards the warm, soothing waters of the bath. I couldn't wait to sink into its depths and let my weary muscles relax.
Thane clapped me on the back, his voice low and serious. "We'll get back to training soon, Riven. But for now, let's just rest and recover."
I nodded, my eyes already closing in exhaustion. "Sounds good to me, Thane."
And with that, I let myself drift off into the welcoming arms of sleep, my body and mind finally able to rest and recover from the rigors of our cultivation.
I sank deeper into the warm waters of the bath, feeling my muscles relax and my mind unwind. The exhaustion of the past 41 days began to melt away, replaced by a sense of calm and clarity.
As I drifted off to sleep, my mind began to wander through the events of the past few weeks. I thought about the elder's words, the mysterious figure in the cave, and the symbol that had revealed itself to us.
My dreams were filled with vivid images and sensations. I saw myself standing at the entrance of the cave, the darkness beckoning me forward. I felt the weight of my nine tails, the power of the mountain coursing through my veins.
But as the dream progressed, the images began to shift and distort. I saw Thane and Zarek standing beside me, their faces set with determination. Together, we faced a horde of shadowy creatures, our powers combined as we fought to emerge victorious.
The dream faded, and I slowly came back to awareness. I lay in the bath, my heart still racing from the intensity of the dream.
Thane's voice broke the silence, his words low and gentle. "Riven, are you okay? You were thrashing about in your sleep."
I opened my eyes, my gaze locking onto Thane's concerned face. "I'm fine," I said, my voice rough from sleep. "Just a dream."
Thane nodded, his expression serious. "We'll face whatever dangers lie within the cave together, Riven. You're not alone in this."
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "I know, Thane.
Zarek's voice came from the doorway, his tone respectful. "My lord, your bath is getting cold. Shall I prepare a fresh one for you?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Yes Zarek, that would be great."
As Zarek busied himself with preparing a fresh bath, I couldn't shake off the feeling that our journey was far from over.
The dream had left me with me with more questions than answers, and I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead.