With his heart racing and the events of the last few days replaying in his head, Kael paced the edge of the cliff with a view of the raging ocean below. The encounter with the Council had not proceeded as expected. No one could have predicted the events that had been triggered by Zara's revelation—her ancestry entwined with the ancient forces that everyone had underestimated. He understood that she had the key, and they were both aware of its significance.
His thoughts were disrupted by the sound of footsteps. He looked over to see Zara coming out of the woods, her face showing both exhaustion and resolve. The faint illumination coming from inside the little satchel she carried hinted at the artefact they had risked all to get.
With a mixture of relief and trepidation in his voice, Kael remarked, "You found it."
Despite the tension in the air, Zara's voice remained steady as she said, "It wasn't easy." The Shadow Keepers didn't let up. They are aware of our closeness, Kael. Until they
