The air outside the sanctuary felt colder, and the uneasy silence stretched around them. Kieran wiped sweat from his brow, glancing back at the flickering heartstone. The thought of leaving it unguarded gnawed at him.
Mira touched his shoulder. "We need to move. The cult might have more followers nearby."
Kieran nodded. "We split up again. Rolan, you and Bram search the southern district for any uncorrupted herbs or relics. Mira, Jace, and I will check the archives and the old apothecary."
Rolan gave a curt nod. "If anything's left untainted, it'll be in the scholar's quarter."
As they headed down the cracked stone path, Rag's ears perked up, sensing something behind them. Kieran slowed his pace, scanning the shadows.
Jace grunted. "Think they're regrouping?"
"Maybe," Kieran replied. "Keep your guard up."
The archives stood mostly intact, though roots had split parts of the walls. Inside, shelves sagged under the weight of damp, crumbling books. Mira ran her fingers over the spines, selecting volumes that seemed preserved.
She handed one to Kieran. "This talks about cleansing rituals. Some of it's in Old Speech—I can't read it all."
He flipped through, recognizing the faded symbols. "It mentions using fragments of the original protective seal. If we can find them, it might restore balance."
Jace scoffed. "So we're treasure hunting now?"
Kieran shrugged. "Better than letting the city rot."
They moved to the apothecary next, where Mira rummaged through shattered jars and overturned shelves. She found a small pouch of dried moonwort and held it up triumphantly. "One of the key ingredients. Lucky it wasn't ruined."
A sudden crash from the street made them freeze. Kieran gestured for silence, peering out through a broken window. A group of cloaked figures moved past, whispering chants under their breath.
Mira whispered, "They're reinforcing the city. We need to move."
Slipping out through a side door, they kept to the alleys, avoiding patrols. Eventually, they met up with Rolan and Bram near the shattered fountain.
Bram lifted a bundle wrapped in cloth. "Found some relics in the old chapel. Should be enough to form a cleansing circle."
Rolan frowned. "Cultists are gathering near the sanctuary. They're reinforcing whatever dark magic they put in place."
Jace spat on the ground. "Then we hit them hard before they dig in."
Kieran weighed their options. "If we strike now, they'll be on guard. Better to disrupt their ritual once they're fully committed. More risky, but they'll be vulnerable."
Mira nodded. "We'll need to set up the cleansing circle quietly. If they notice too soon, it's over."
They laid out their plan, gathering the required materials and memorizing their roles. As dusk fell, the group moved cautiously toward the sanctuary, ready to face whatever dark power awaited them within.