The presence of the Warden lingered in the clearing, like an oppressive fog that refused to dissipate. Elara stood frozen in the wake of the encounter, the weight of its words pressing down on her chest. Kade was the first to break the silence, his voice steady but with an edge of uncertainty.
"What do we do now?" he asked, his eyes flicking between Elara and Morgana, as if seeking guidance.
Elara took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus. The Warden's words had shaken her, but she couldn't afford to lose herself in uncertainty. She had a mission—she had always had a mission. And whatever the creature was, it was only one more piece in the larger puzzle.
"We move forward," Elara said, her voice firm despite the lingering doubts in her mind. "The Warden might have warned us, but it didn't stop us. It only told us what we already know: the Heart is coming. And we're the only ones who can stop it."