The group rested beside a small stream deep inside Shadowroot Forest. The night had grown cold, and the sounds of strange creatures echoed through the trees.
A small fire burned between them.
Arian sat quietly, staring at the glowing map inside his bag.
"So many dangers already…" he murmured.
Lyra sat beside him.
"This is only the beginning," she said gently.
Draven stood a short distance away, sharpening one of his swords.
Arian looked toward him.
"You saved my life back in the village," Arian said.
"Why are you helping us?"
Draven was silent for a moment.
Finally, he spoke.
"Because I know what Malvyr is capable of."
Lyra looked at him carefully.
"You've fought him before… haven't you?"
Draven nodded slowly.
"Years ago."
He stared into the dark forest.
"My homeland was destroyed by Malvyr's army."
"Thousands of people died."
Arian felt shocked.
"So you want revenge?"
Draven shook his head.
"No."
"I want to make sure no one else suffers the same fate."
Arkon watched quietly.
"That is why fate brought you to this journey," the old wizard said.
Just then, the map inside Arian's bag began glowing brighter.
A golden line slowly appeared across the parchment.
Lyra quickly opened the bag.
"The map is changing!"
New symbols appeared on its surface.
"It's showing a path," Arian said.
Arkon studied the glowing symbols.
"It's guiding us to the Ruins of Velmora."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"The lost kingdom?"
Arkon nodded.
"If another piece of the map exists, it may be hidden there."
Draven stood up.
"Then we move at sunrise."
Far away in the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes watched them.
Malvyr's hunters had not given up the chase.