The following morning, Elara and her companions set out towards the shrine mentioned by the villagers. The sun was barely up, casting a golden hue over the landscape as they followed a narrow path leading into the forest. The air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine, but there was an underlying tension, a sense of anticipation that made every step feel heavier.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew denser, their canopies intertwining to form a natural tunnel of green. The path twisted and turned, guiding them further into the heart of the woods. The forest seemed almost alive, the whispers of the wind carrying faint echoes of old secrets.