The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the village that had become the latest sanctuary for Elara, Lyra, Kirin, and Thalia. The villagers, once consumed by fear and despair, were beginning to stir with a newfound sense of purpose. The remnants of the dark times were still visible—ruined homes, charred trees, and the scars of battle—but amidst the devastation, the seeds of renewal were being sown.
Elara awoke to the sound of hammers and saws, a melody of rebuilding that filled her with hope. She stepped out of the small cottage where she and her companions had spent the night, taking a moment to stretch and breathe in the crisp morning air. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, unmarred by the oppressive darkness that had once clung to the Realm like a shroud.