The ride back to Raventhorn was cloaked in an unsettling silence. The forest loomed, its darkened branches like skeletal arms reaching for the sky. The only sound was the crunch of hooves on frozen earth and the occasional distant cry of an owl. Elara, still reeling from the events in the village, clutched the crystal Kael had given her, its warmth a steady reassurance in her hand.

Kael rode beside her, his expression as impenetrable as ever. He hadn’t spoken a word since they left the village, but Elara could feel the weight of his gaze on her.

“You felt it, didn’t you?” Kael finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, yet edged with something sharper.

Elara nodded, her grip tightening on the reins. “The darkness. It wasn’t natural. Someone—or something—is behind it.”

Kael’s jaw clenched. “The corruption in the ley lines is spreading faster than I anticipated. If we don’t act soon, it will consume the North—and beyond.”

Elara turned to him, her eyes fierce. “Then tell me what I need to do. No more riddles, no more half-truths. If I’m to help, I need to know everything.”

Kael slowed his horse, his silver eyes glinting in the pale moonlight. For a moment, he seemed to weigh his words carefully.

“The corruption stems from an ancient entity,” he said. “A being that thrives on chaos and destruction. It was sealed centuries ago by the first guardians of the Ley Lines, but the seal is weakening. Someone is working to release it.”

“Who?” Elara asked, her voice a whisper.

Kael shook his head. “I don’t know. But the signs are clear—the sickness in the villages, the disturbances in the ley lines, the rise of shadowed creatures. They’re all connected.”

Elara’s mind raced. “And what of the Duke’s curse? The rumours about your bloodline—are they true?”

Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. “The Raventhorn lineage has always been bound to the ley lines. We draw power from them, but we are also their servants. The curse… it’s a price we pay for that bond.”

“A price?” Elara’s brow furrowed.

“Our lives are tied to the ley lines’ balance,” Kael said grimly. “If the lines fall, so do we.”

By the time they reached Raventhorn, dawn was breaking, painting the castle in hues of gold and crimson. Elara dismounted, exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. Lyria awaited her at the steps, her worried expression softening as she saw Elara return safely.

“My lady, you look pale,” Lyria said, hurrying to her side. “Come, let me fetch you something warm.”

Elara allowed herself to be led inside, her thoughts a tangled web of questions and fears. She barely noticed the warmth of the hearth or the comforting aroma of spiced tea as Lyria fussed over her.

But her reprieve was short-lived.

A sharp knock on the door drew her attention. Kael entered, his presence filling the room. “There’s no time to rest,” he said. “We need to prepare.”

“For what?” Elara asked, rising to her feet.

Kael’s gaze was unwavering. “The corruption is moving toward the ley line nexus beneath Raventhorn. If we don’t stop it there, everything we’ve fought for will be lost.”