The air was thick with silence as Kael and Morgana stood at the edge of the ancient forest. Though they had walked this path many times, tonight felt different, charged with an energy that prickled the skin. Shadows flickered around them, cast by the dim light of their lanterns, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Kael glanced over at Morgana, her expression unreadable as she studied the trees before them. "Are you certain we should be here tonight?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded, her gaze unwavering. "We've faced every darkness together. Whatever awaits us here, we're ready for it."
Together, they stepped forward, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot echoing in the stillness. The deeper they went, the thicker the trees grew, their branches intertwining like the arms of ancient guardians watching over them. They could feel the weight of time in the air, as if the forest was saturated with memories of those who had walked this path before.
