As the days turned into weeks, the village slowly began to transform. The crops began to thrive once again, the animals were no longer restless, and the people who had once been haunted by fear now walked with a sense of hope. It was a quiet recovery, but it was progress.
Still, Amelia knew better than to ignore the shadow that lingered over them. The curse had been lifted, but its remnants could still be felt in the land, in the stone, and within her. She had to remain vigilant, always aware of the darkness that had once controlled everything. The Watcher's warning echoed in her mind: The darkness will always be there, waiting for the right moment to return.
One evening, as the sun began to set and the village settled into its nightly rhythm, Amelia found herself drawn back to the clearing where it all began. The stone was no longer glowing, its power dormant for the time being, but she still felt its presence. As she stood there, the wind picked up, rustling the leaves around her, and she caught a glimpse of something—an unfamiliar figure standing at the edge of the trees.
Her heart raced. Who was it? And why did it feel so familiar?
The figure stepped forward, revealing a face that Amelia hadn't seen in years. It was a woman, older now, but the same eyes—dark and intense—gazed back at her. Amelia's breath caught in her throat as recognition flooded over her.
"Sophie?" she whispered, barely daring to believe her own eyes.
The woman nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It's been a long time, Amelia."