The warmth of victory was short-lived. As Elara and Kael ascended from the nexus, the weight of the castle seemed heavier, its halls darker than before. The ley line’s corruption might have been temporarily subdued, but the lingering sense of unease clung to the air like a thick fog.

In the great hall, Lyria greeted Elara with a tight hug. “My lady, you’re freezing! What happened down there?”

“Later,” Elara murmured, too exhausted to explain. Her legs felt like lead, her mind still tethered to the pulse of the ley lines. She could feel their energy faintly now, a hum in the back of her thoughts—a connection that hadn’t been there before.

Kael stood nearby, speaking with his steward in low, urgent tones. When he finished, his piercing silver gaze landed on Elara. “Rest if you must, but not for long. The corruption may be quelled for now, but its source will not wait for us.”

“And where do we look for the source?” Elara asked, her voice steadier than she felt.

Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. “There’s a place deep in the northern wilds—a sanctuary that was once a bastion of the ley line guardians. If anyone holds answers, it will be found there.”

“A sanctuary?” Elara echoed, curiosity pricking through her weariness.

“A ruin now,” Kael clarified. “But its heart may still hold the knowledge we need.”

Elara nodded, determination flaring within her. She had seen what the corruption could do, and though fear still gripped her, she would not turn back now.

The journey began at dawn. Kael insisted on travelling light, bringing only a handful of trusted guards, Lyria, and provisions enough to last a fortnight. The northern wilds were known for their treacherous terrain and bitter cold, but they would move faster with fewer supplies.

As they left the shadow of Raventhorn Castle, the snow grew deeper, the winds harsher. Elara pulled her cloak tighter around her, her breath forming clouds in the icy air. Lyria, seated beside her in the carriage, looked pale but resolute.

“Do you truly trust him?” Lyria asked, breaking the silence.

Elara glanced at Kael, riding ahead with the guards, his dark armour gleaming faintly in the morning light. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I trust his purpose. He wants to stop this corruption as much as I do.”

“Still,” Lyria murmured, “there’s something about him… something he’s not telling us.”

Elara couldn’t argue. Kael was a man of shadows, his words often veiled in mystery. But she had seen his resolve, his willingness to risk everything to protect the ley lines. That, at least, felt genuine.

The forest thinned as they approached the foothills of the northern mountains. The wilds were vast and desolate, a stark contrast to the lush lands Elara had known. Snow and ice covered everything, turning the landscape into a monochrome painting of white and grey.

By the third day, the group reached a narrow pass that twisted between jagged cliffs. Kael called for a halt, his expression tense as he surveyed the path ahead.

“What is it?” Elara asked, joining him.

“We’re being watched,” he said quietly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Elara’s breath hitched. “By what?”

Kael didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he motioned to the guards to stay alert. “The wilds are home to more than just wolves and bandits,” he said finally. “There are creatures here—ancient, twisted things—that thrive in the shadows.”

As if summoned by his words, a low growl echoed through the pass. The guards drew their weapons, their eyes scanning the cliffs for movement.

Elara felt the hum of her magic stir, warning her of danger. She closed her eyes, focusing on the ley lines beneath the earth. The energy was faint but present, and she reached out to it, hoping for guidance.

A vision flashed before her—a shape moving through the snow, too fast to be human. It was large, with glowing eyes and claws that gleamed like obsidian.

“They’re coming,” she whispered, her eyes snapping open.

The first creature lunged from the shadows, a monstrous thing of sinew and shadow. Its roar shook the pass as it charged the group, followed by others of its kind.

Kael was the first to act, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. The guards formed a protective circle around Elara and Lyria, their swords clashing against the creatures with the sharp ring of steel.

Elara’s heart pounded as she summoned her magic, the energy flowing through her veins like fire. She raised her hands, and a burst of light erupted from her palms, searing the nearest creature. It shrieked and fell, its form dissolving into smoke.

“Stay close to me!” Kael shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Elara obeyed, her magic surging as she fought alongside him. The creatures were relentless, their numbers overwhelming, but together they pushed forward, carving a path through the onslaught.

When the last of the beasts fell, the pass was silent once more. The snow was stained with dark ichor, and the air was heavy with the scent of burnt flesh.

Kael turned to Elara, his face grim but approving. “You’re stronger than I thought,” he said.

Elara wiped the sweat from her brow, her hands trembling from the exertion. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Kael’s expression softened, just slightly. “None of us do.”

As they made camp that night, the group was subdued, their victory overshadowed by the knowledge that worse dangers lay ahead. Elara sat by the fire, the crystal Kael had given her glowing faintly in her hand.

The journey was testing her in ways she had never imagined, but it was also awakening something within her—a strength she hadn’t known she possessed.

As the fire crackled and the stars glimmered above, she realized that this was only the beginning of her true battle.