The dawn's first light filtered through the mist as Elara and her companions emerged from the Northern Wastes, their path now bathed in the soft, golden hues of morning. The fortress they had left behind lay quiet and still, its dark influence finally subdued. Yet, as they moved away from the stronghold, the weariness of their journey weighed heavily on them.
Elara glanced back at the fortress, now a mere shadow in the distance. The battle had been fierce, but the victory was theirs. It had come at a cost, though—their strength was waning, and the emotional toll of their trials had left them subdued. Yet there was a flicker of hope in their eyes, a testament to their resilience.
They traveled through rugged terrain, the landscape gradually shifting from the harsh, icy expanses of the Wastes to the gentler rolling hills and fertile fields of the land beyond. The change in scenery brought a welcome relief, the beauty of the landscape a soothing balm to their battle-worn spirits.
