After the shadow dissolved into mist, the forest fell silent once more.
But it was not a peaceful silence—it pulsed with the rhythm of hearts still racing, as if echoing what had just occurred.
Prava pressed a hand against her chest, feeling the lingering tremor within.
"That wasn't just an enemy… it felt like a test," she whispered.
Rafael lowered his head slightly, sweat tracing his temple, though his eyes remained steady.
"Yes… and it won't be the last."
He placed a reassuring hand on Prava's shoulder, warmth flowing into her, easing the fear that still clung to her.
Allara gazed into the mist that slowly thinned, her expression touched by both sorrow and knowledge.
"This mist is not mere nature… it is a fragment of the force binding this world together."
She drew in a breath, her voice quiet yet firm.
"And it is calling us… toward its heart."
Prava turned to Rafael.
In his eyes, she saw both doubt and unwavering trust.
Their silence spoke louder than any words could.
The path narrowed as they walked on, roots twisting beneath their feet like ancient veins of the earth.
The sound of a nearby stream accompanied them like a forgotten melody.
Prava knelt by the water, letting her fingers brush the clear surface.
Light shimmered—and suddenly, an image flashed before her:
a woman's sorrowful eyes, and a whisper: "Do not forget…"
She gasped, pulling her hand back.
Rafael quickly caught her trembling fingers. "What happened?"
"I… I saw something," she murmured.
Allara's gaze sharpened, steady and certain.
"That was an echo of the past. It will guide us—if we do not turn away."
The three exchanged glances.
Their hearts beat in unison, bound by something greater than fear.
And in that moment, they understood—
this journey was no longer just about survival.
It was about unraveling the hidden truth of the world…
and of their own intertwined souls.