The camp was subdued as the first rays of sunlight broke through the trees. The guards moved methodically, clearing the remains of the battle and tending to the wounded. Kael stood apart from the others, his sharp gaze fixed on the horizon, his thoughts elsewhere.

Elara sat near the dying embers of the fire, the crystal in her hands once again. Its light was faint, but she could feel it pulsing faintly, as if responding to her magic. Lyria joined her, sitting close enough to offer comfort but not speak immediately.

“They came for this,” Elara said finally, holding the crystal up.

Lyria frowned. “Do you think they knew you had it?”

Elara nodded slowly. “The corruption in the sanctuary—it’s connected to something larger. These creatures… they’re tied to it, just like the altar was.”

Kael approached, his shadow falling over the two women. “They were more than tied to it. They were drawn here. Something about that crystal calls to them.”

Elara met his gaze, her brow furrowing. “If that’s true, then carrying this is a danger to all of us.”

“Perhaps,” Kael admitted. “But it’s also a key. That crystal holds knowledge we’ll need to root out the corruption at its source. You must keep it, but you’ll have to learn how to shield its power.”

“And how do I do that?” Elara asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. “We’ll find someone who can teach you. But until then, you’ll have to rely on your instincts. For now, we move.”

The group broke camp quickly, their journey taking them deeper into the mountains. The air grew colder, the snow thicker, and the silence more oppressive. Each step felt heavier as if the land itself resisted their passage.

By midday, they came upon a ruined village, its charred remains half-buried in snow. The buildings were skeletal, their blackened beams jutting upward like broken fingers. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, and even the horses seemed uneasy, their ears flicking nervously.

Kael dismounted, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Stay alert,” he warned. “There’s something wrong here.”

Elara followed, her magic stirring faintly in her chest. She moved cautiously through the ruins, her eyes scanning for any signs of life—or danger.

At the centre of the village stood a well, its stones cracked and overgrown with frost. As Elara approached, she felt the crystal in her satchel pulse sharply, its light visible even through the fabric.

“There’s something beneath,” she said, her voice trembling.

Kael joined her, his expression dark. “The ley line runs through this village. Whatever happened here, the corruption is rooted deep.”

Before Elara could respond, a faint whisper drifted through the air. It was soft at first, like the rustle of leaves, but it grew steadily louder, forming words that sent a chill down her spine.

“Seek us… or be consumed.”

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere, resonating in her very bones. She clutched the crystal tightly, its warmth the only thing anchoring her to reality.

Kael’s hand closed over hers, steadying her. “We’ll face it together,” he said firmly.

Elara nodded, her fear giving way to determination. Whatever lay beneath the well, it was calling to her—and she would not run from it.