Night fell swiftly on the mountain pass, wrapping the canyon in a suffocating darkness. The fire they had built beneath the ancient pillar crackled softly, its light flickering against the stone like fragile hope in a world teetering on the edge of despair. The cold seeped into their bones, the warmth of the flames doing little to keep the biting chill at bay.
Elara sat close to the fire, her hands extended toward the flames, though her thoughts were far from the warmth. Her mind churned with the revelation of the ancient marker. The Sanctum of Aetheris wasn't just a myth—it was real. And they were on the path to finding it. But even the discovery couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest.