Chapter 622: Chapter 622: The Darkening

The days following their encounter with the ancient tree were a blur of preparation. The group had left the forest with renewed energy, but the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on them like a storm gathering on the horizon. The world was healing, but it was far from safe, and they knew that the peace they had fought so hard to secure could be shattered at any moment.

Elara spent much of her time in the Citadel, consulting with the scholars and strategists who had taken refuge there after the war. Maps and charts covered the walls of the war room, each one marked with notes and symbols representing the various forces still loyal to the Shadow Shard's dark legacy. Though the Shard itself was destroyed, its influence lingered in pockets across the land, in the hearts of those who had been seduced by its power.