The team's journey through the Northern Wastes was nothing short of grueling. The landscape was a desolate expanse of ice and rock, where the wind howled like a living creature, carrying with it the biting cold that seeped through even the thickest of clothing. Kirin led the way, his senses honed to detect any threat that might emerge from the icy wilderness. Lyra followed closely, her staff glowing faintly with the protective wards she had cast, a beacon of warmth in the frozen wasteland.
The rest of the team—seasoned warriors, skilled mages, and a few scouts—moved with a quiet determination. They had all faced countless dangers before, but there was something about this mission, the unknown nature of the stronghold, that weighed heavily on them. It was as if the very air was thick with foreboding, and each step brought them closer to something ancient and powerful, something that had been buried for a reason.