The eastern highlands of Elarion Reborn were not welcoming.
Jagged cliffs loomed overhead, and the air was thick with mist—not natural, but tainted. Every breath tasted of metal and dust, every shadow stretched too long.
Zephyr rode ahead of his party, accompanied by Elara—his seer and mistress of ancient paths—and three elite scouts. The main army waited two days behind. He needed answers, not another battle. Not yet.
"This region wasn't like this before," Elara murmured. Her eyes, always attuned to magic, glowed faintly. "The land is… weeping."
Zephyr dismounted and knelt, placing a hand on the ground.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION](Ding)
Corruption Detected: Deep Court Influence – 17% Saturation.
New Phenomenon: Whisper Plague – Unknown effects on mortals.
"They're changing the land," he muttered. "Twisting it into something else."
Ahead, ruins rose out of the mists—ancient stone spires marked with symbols older than any kingdom, older than the systems themselves.
