Chapter 55: Echoes of the Past

**Chapter 55: Echoes of the Past**

As the coalition forces began to tend to the wounded and gather their fallen comrades, Elandor found a moment to catch his breath. The victory, though hard-won, left a bitter taste in his mouth. The death of the Dark Lord was supposed to be the end of the nightmare, but Elandor knew better. The shadows had only been pushed back, not extinguished.

Seraphine approached him, her face drawn with exhaustion but her eyes still burning with determination. "We did it, Elandor. We stopped him... for now."

Elandor nodded, wiping the sweat and blood from his brow. "For now," he repeated, the weight of the battle still heavy on his mind. "But the darkness won't stay silent for long. There's something more at play here, something we're not seeing."

Kael joined them, his blades sheathed but still radiating the energy of the fight. "You felt it too, didn't you? The Dark Lord wasn't just defeated... he was prepared for it. It's almost as if he knew this would happen."

Elandor frowned, the words stirring a deep unease within him. The battle had been too easy, too straightforward. The Dark Lord had put up a fierce fight, but in the end, it felt as though he had been holding back. It was as if the true battle had yet to begin.

"There's something else," Seraphine added, her voice tinged with concern. "During the fight, I felt a strange presence. It was like... an echo of something ancient, something that has been waiting in the shadows for a long time."

Elandor turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "An echo? What do you mean?"

Seraphine shook her head, frustration evident on her face. "I don't know. It was just a feeling, a sense that this battle was part of something much larger. The Dark Lord's defeat might have been planned, but by whom or for what purpose, I can't say."

Kael crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the remnants of the dark army had retreated. "If that's true, then we're dealing with something far more dangerous than we realized. We need to find out what it is and stop it before it can strike again."

Elandor's mind raced as he considered their options. The coalition had won the day, but their enemy was far from vanquished. If there was a larger plan in motion, they needed to uncover it before it was too late.

"We need answers," Elandor said, his voice firm. "And we won't find them here. The Dark Lord's defeat is only the first step. We need to investigate further, to find the source of this darkness and put an end to it once and for all."

Seraphine nodded in agreement. "There are ancient texts, hidden tomes that might hold the knowledge we need. I'll begin searching immediately, but we'll need to be careful. Whatever we're dealing with, it's powerful, and it's been in the shadows for a long time."

Kael placed a hand on Elandor's shoulder, his expression one of unwavering loyalty. "Whatever comes next, we'll face it together. The darkness may be vast, but we're not alone in this fight."

Elandor felt a renewed sense of purpose as he looked at his companions. They had faced impossible odds and emerged victorious, but their journey was far from over. The echoes of the past were calling to them, and they would have to delve into the forgotten corners of history to uncover the truth.

"We'll leave at first light," Elandor decided, his voice resolute. "The capital is secure for now, but we can't afford to waste time. The real enemy is still out there, and we need to find them before they make their next move."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the battlefield, Elandor, Seraphine, and Kael made their preparations. The road ahead would be fraught with danger, but they were determined to see it through to the end. The echoes of the past were calling, and they would not be ignored.

The coalition had won a battle, but the war was just beginning.