The morning air was crisp, tinged with the faint scent of pine and wet stone, as Lira and Serelyth prepared to leave their small clearing. The sun had barely kissed the horizon, casting long, soft shadows across the valley floor. The guide had already broken camp with quiet efficiency, the rustle of leather and the clink of straps sounding almost musical in the stillness of dawn.
"Are you ready, Lira?" Serelyth asked in her human form, standing tall, white hair gleaming like spun silver in the rising light. Her red eyes scanned the mountains beyond the pass, reflecting both the determination and the caution that had marked every step of their journey so far.
Lira tightened the straps of her bag, feeling the familiar weight of potions, herbs, and tools resting against her back. "I am. The sanctuary is close… I can feel it. But I also feel… this will not be easy."
