The Council Of Factions

Their next journey took them to the Shadow Grove, a place shrouded in legend and fear. The trees there were twisted, their branches blackened and brittle as if they had been burned by some long-forgotten fire. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, littered with the bones of creatures that had ventured too far into the grove and never returned.

"This place is… unsettling," Ariana murmured, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

Demion nodded in agreement. "We need to be careful. The guardian could be anywhere."

The deeper they ventured into the grove, the darker and more oppressive the air became. It felt as if they were being watched, though every time they turned, there was nothing but darkness behind them. Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached a clearing where the air grew cold and still.