The days following Elara's departure into the forest blurred into one another. The village was calm, almost unnervingly so. Without the threat of the True Shadow looming over them, the people could finally begin to rebuild, to move forward with their lives. But as the sun rose and set each day, it became increasingly clear that Elara's absence was felt deeply—not just by her friends, but by the villagers who had come to see her as their protector.
In the days following her retreat, Kael and Lyra kept busy. Kael had thrown himself into rebuilding the village's defenses, making sure the gates were secure and that there were no remnants of dark magic lingering in the corners. Lyra had helped to organize efforts to heal the wounded, using her knowledge of restorative spells and her innate kindness to bring comfort to those who still trembled from the war.