The next morning, the group pressed on, the towering peaks of the northern mountains looming ever closer. The air grew thinner and colder, each breath a sharp sting against their lungs. Kael, as always, led the way, his posture unwavering despite the biting winds. Elara marvelled at his endurance, though she was beginning to feel the strain.

Lyria, ever her loyal companion, handed her a steaming flask of spiced tea. “Drink, my lady. You’ll need your strength.”

Elara offered a grateful smile and took a sip, the warmth spreading through her body. “Thank you, Lyria. How are you holding up?”

“I’m managing,” Lyria replied, her voice shaking slightly. “But I’d rather be back in Raventhorn, cold walls and all.”

Elara chuckled softly, though her heart felt heavy. With its wild beauty and oppressive silence, this place was awe-inspiring and foreboding. Every step closer to their destination seemed to amplify the tension coiled within her chest.

By mid-afternoon, they reached the edge of a plateau where the ruins of the sanctuary stood. It was an imposing structure, carved directly into the mountainside, its stone walls etched with ancient runes. Despite its age, there was an undeniable energy emanating from it, a pulse that resonated deep in Elara’s core.

“This is it,” Kael said, dismounting his horse. He gestured to the group to make camp at the base of the sanctuary. “We’ll enter at first light.”

Elara stared up at the ruins, unease prickling her skin. “Why not now?”

“Because whatever lies inside will be more dangerous in the dark,” Kael replied, his gaze locked on the entrance. “The corruption feeds on shadow. We’ll need daylight to stand a chance.”

That night, sleep eluded Elara. She lay in her tent, staring at the faint glow of the crystal Kael had entrusted to her. Its light was steady and comforting, yet it seemed to whisper to her, pulling her thoughts toward the sanctuary.

Unable to resist, she slipped out of the tent and into the cold night air. The ruins loomed above her, their runes faintly glowing like embers in the darkness. Elara’s magic hummed softly, urging her closer.

“Elara.”

The voice startled her, and she turned to see Kael emerging from the shadows, his silver eyes glinting in the moonlight. “You shouldn’t wander alone,” he said, his tone more concerned than reprimanding.

“I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “The sanctuary… it’s calling to me.”

Kael studied her for a moment before nodding. “The ley lines run through it. Those with your gift would feel their pull more strongly.”

“What do you think we’ll find inside?” she asked, wrapping her cloak tighter around herself.

“Truths,” Kael said. “And truths are often the most dangerous things of all.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the wind whispering through the trees. Then Kael’s expression softened, his voice lowering. “You’re braver than you know, Elara. Few would have come this far.”

His words warmed her, though she wasn’t sure why. “And you? Why do you fight this battle, Kael?”

A shadow passed over his face, his gaze turning distant. “Because I must. Because the price of failure is too great.”

Before she could press him further, Kael gestured toward the camp. “Get some rest. We’ll need your strength tomorrow.”

Reluctantly, Elara returned to her tent, though her thoughts lingered on Kael’s cryptic words and the sanctuary’s promise of truths.