The fortress loomed behind them, a dark silhouette against the slowly brightening sky. Elara, Ethan, and Lyra moved swiftly down the rocky path, the oppressive atmosphere of the fortress still clinging to their thoughts like a shadow. The wind howled through the crags, carrying with it the faint echoes of the battle they had just fought. But with every step away from the ancient stronghold, the weight on their shoulders began to lift, replaced by a wary sense of relief.
The silence that followed the battle felt almost surreal, as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break the calm. The path ahead was steep and treacherous, the sharp edges of the rocks glistening with the moisture of the early morning mist. But the three of them moved with purpose, driven by the urgency of their mission and the need to warn the others of what they had discovered.