With each stride Zara took, the woodland appeared to release a breath. The obelisk behind her pulsed quietly, illuminating the route she now walked with a warm, unearthly radiance. Even if she was by herself, the energy in her veins served as a reminder that she bore Kael's lasting legacy in addition to the Nexus's strength.
The sounds of life returned as she ventured farther into the revitalised forest: the distant buzz of a stream, the rustle of leaves, and the chirping of birds. But beneath the colourful exterior, Zara felt uneasy. The world itself seemed to be holding its breath in anticipation of something.
In the Clearing, a Stranger
Zara arrived at a spacious area after walking for hours. A tiny, worn cottage stood in the middle of it, encircled by a ring of blue flowers that appeared to glimmer dimly in the last of the sunlight. The air smelt like herbs, and smoke curled from the chimney.
Zara stepped forward cautiously, her hand on Kael's knife hilt. Long ago, she had discove
