Night fell over the reunited tribes. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, carrying the scent of dew and renewal. Yet beneath the calm, a dark presence slithered through the forest, unseen and patient.
Rafael sensed it first. "Something stirs… not just a creature, but a force. It feels… intelligent, deliberate."
Prava's eyes narrowed. "The trials may have ended, but the world beyond the forest still tests us. We cannot lower our guard."
From the shadows, a figure cloaked in midnight blue emerged. Its eyes glowed with a cold, unnatural light, and an aura of ancient power radiated from it.
"I have watched your unity," the figure spoke, voice like ice over stone. "You have passed the trials of the heart, but now a new challenge awaits—one that will test your courage, your bonds, and the very future of your tribes."
Allara stepped forward, staff raised. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
The figure paused, then slowly lifted its hood, revealing a face both human and alien, ancient yet ageless. "I am the Keeper of Forgotten Fates. And your choices will echo through time."
Prava clenched her fists. "Then we will face you, together. Whatever comes, we will protect our tribes, our families, and the future we've begun to build."
The Keeper's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Good. Let the covenant be made. Let the next trial begin."
Above the treetops, stars glimmered brighter, as if bearing witness to the alliance—and the challenge—that lay ahead