Chapter 5: Keillor's Warning

Amidst the chaos gripping Oakwood, an elderly figure named Keillor, known for his wisdom and deep connection to the town's history, felt a profound disturbance in the balance of magic. He sensed the dark energy radiating from the stolen souls and knew that the town teetered on the brink of disaster.

Keillor had long been a guardian of Oakwood's ancient lore, and he had knowledge of the dark rituals that Zilan had embarked upon. Fearing the consequences of tampering with such potent forces, he sought to intervene. Keillor approached Zilan, his eyes filled with both compassion and warning.

"You tread a perilous path, young one," Keillor cautioned. "Dark magic exacts a price far greater than you can imagine. It is not too late to turn away from this treacherous journey."

But Zilan, consumed by grief and determined to reunite with his brother and seek revenge for his death, could not heed Keillor's plea. The pull of the dark magic was relentless, and he was willing to pay any price to achieve his goal.

Keillor's warning went unheeded, and the rift between those who sought to protect Oakwood and those who sought to control dark forces widened. As the town's fate hung in the balance, the clash between light and darkness loomed ever closer, with Keillor, the wise guardian, standing as a last beacon of hope and reason in the face of impending catastrophe.