章 206: Silence

The fog hung low over the valley, shrouding the world in a thick, oppressive silence. The quiet seemed unnatural to Emily, Mara, and Calem as they stood on the edge of the forest, looking down toward the ruins of an old, forgotten fortress. This was where the next piece of their journey would begin, but a growing sense of dread filled Emily as they prepared to descend into the unknown.

Emily glanced at her companions. Mara's eyes were fixed on the fortress, her expression unreadable, while Calem was sharpening his sword, though it was clear his mind was elsewhere. The three of them had been through so much in the last few weeks—battles, losses, betrayals—but this mission felt different. It was more than just about survival now. It was about confronting something far older and darker than any of them had imagined.

"We shouldn't waste any more time," Mara said, breaking the silence. "If the Shadow Order has already been here, we may be too late."