0206 -

Wei Lin relaxed slightly but remained cautious. "If you're a guardian, can you help us reach the Lumina Caverns?"

Thalos nodded. "I can guide you, but the journey will be perilous. The Shadow Covenant is aware of your mission and will stop at nothing to prevent you from reaching the Heart of Light."

"We're ready for whatever comes our way," Kaito said firmly. "We've come this far, and we won't turn back now."

The group agreed to follow Elder Thalos. As they prepared for the journey, the elderly guardian shared stories of the Lumina Caverns and the trials they would face. He spoke of ancient traps, hidden passageways, and the mystical creatures that protected the Heart of Light.

As dawn broke, they set out, leaving the desert behind and heading toward the northern mountains. The Whispering Forest loomed ahead, its dense foliage and eerie silence a stark contrast to the open expanse of the desert.