The night had deepened as Elara and her companions set out on their journey to the first of the ancient sites listed in the manuscript. The village was now a distant memory, its comforting glow replaced by the cold, distant twinkle of the stars. The air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine and earth, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the dark temple they had left behind.
Their destination was a set of ruins deep in the forest, known to locals only as the Whispering Ruins. According to the manuscript, these ruins were once a center of arcane knowledge, a place where powerful magic had been both practiced and contained. Now, however, it was rumored to be haunted by the echoes of its past.
As they navigated through the dense forest, the trees seemed to close in around them, their silhouettes dark against the starry sky. The path was barely visible, and the only sounds were the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.
