The atmosphere in the camp was heavy as Marinetta, Harley, and Lily returned. The others sensed that something had gone terribly wrong, and they gathered around the trio, their eyes filled with concern and questions.
Silas was the first to speak, his voice laced with urgency. "What happened? We felt a surge of dark energy and then… nothing."
Marinetta took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Lysander set a trap for us. The temple we investigated was rigged to collapse, and he left a projection of himself to taunt us. He knows we're getting closer to him, and he's trying to weaken us before the final confrontation."
Aislinn frowned, her mind already racing through the implications. "If he's setting traps, it means he's becoming desperate. He must be preparing for something big, something that he knows we have the power to stop."
