The journey back through the cavern was eerily quiet, the oppressive air of the vortex now replaced by an uneasy stillness. Elara, Morgana, and Thorne walked in silence, the weight of what they had just done settling heavily on their shoulders. The light from the crystal had faded to a soft, pulsing glow, no longer the blazing beacon it had been during the battle. Yet, it still felt like an anchor, pulling them forward, guiding them out of the darkness.
Despite their success, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. They had severed the vortex, destroyed the heart of the corruption that had been spreading through the land. But the air was still thick with the residue of that dark power, a lingering presence that seemed to stretch its tendrils toward them from every shadow.
Morgana was the first to speak, her voice low and contemplative. "We did what we had to do. But I can't help but feel that we've only scratched the surface. This—this isn't over."