The dawn had arrived, soft rays of light piercing through the canopy of trees, casting long shadows on the ground beneath. The village of Veridia, still rebuilding from the previous chaos, stood in the quiet morning light, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had consumed it. But within Elara, the storm was far from over.
She stood on the edge of the forest once more, the Codex of Shadows resting in her hands, its weight as much in the decision she had to make as the physical heft of the ancient tome. The wind whispered through the leaves, carrying with it the distant sound of movement—a reminder that time was slipping away. She could feel it, the pressure building, not just in her chest, but in every fiber of her being. The shadow was growing stronger, and the Codex... it called to her. It promised power. It promised an end to the darkness. But it also promised a cost—one she couldn't yet fathom.