The village lay still in the early morning light, the first rays of the sun casting a golden hue over the fields and cottages. Birds chirped softly, and a gentle breeze rustled through the trees. To the untrained eye, it was a scene of tranquility, an ordinary day beginning in an ordinary village. But beneath the surface, there was a tension that none could deny—a sense that something monumental was about to happen.
Elara stood at the edge of the village, her eyes scanning the horizon. The weight of their discovery in the Sacred Library still hung heavy on her shoulders. The ancient tome's warnings of a looming darkness had been clear: a storm was coming, and it would test everything they had fought for.
Kael approached quietly, his presence as steadying as always. He placed a hand on her shoulder, offering silent support. "It's strange," he said, his voice low. "It looks so peaceful, but it feels like the calm before the storm."