The tension in the air lingered long after the rift had been sealed, leaving an oppressive silence that hung over the camp like a heavy shroud. The group sat in a loose circle, their faces drawn and weary, their minds still processing what had just occurred. The ground was still scarred from the last surge of energy, cracks running through the earth as if it, too, felt the weight of the event.
Elara felt the pull of exhaustion deep in her bones. Her body ached, every muscle screaming from the effort of channeling the relic's power. But it wasn't just the physical toll that wore on her—it was the realization that their fight was far from over. The rift had been sealed for now, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something much larger was looming just beyond their reach.