The Aftermath of Battle

Chapter 17

The Aftermath of Battle

Lyra's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry. She groggily sat up, her head spinning. Kael's face came into focus, his eyes filled with concern. "Lyra, thank the gods," he whispered, helping her stand.

Aria approached, her sword still trembling with the aftershocks of battle. "We need to get out of here, now," she urged, her eyes scanning the horizon.

Erian's face was pale, his eyes sunken with fatigue. "I...I can't feel my magic," he stammered, his voice laced with panic.

Rowan's gaze was fixed on the ground, his mind reeling with the aftermath of the battle. "What...what have we done?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Lirien's eyes seemed to gleam with a knowing light, as if she held secrets she wasn't sharing.

"The balance shifts," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "The darkness returns."