Chapter 225: Elystria

A cold mist blanketed the ancient forest of Elystria, threading through the gnarled roots and towering trees like the fingers of unseen spirits. Only the bravest dared to enter this wood after dusk, for Elystria had long been rumored to hold secrets and shadows from a time when magic still freely roamed the land. But tonight, a small band of travelers made their way along the forest's narrow, winding paths.

Leading the way was Wren, a woman of sharp eyes and sharper instincts, clad in a cloak the color of midnight, her every step silent as she passed over leaf-strewn ground. Behind her trudged Finn, her childhood friend and a warrior with a heart as big as his laugh, followed by Thea, a healer from a distant village, whose knowledge of herbs and ancient spells had already saved them more times than Wren could count.