Chapter 42: The Oracle's Prophecy

Elara and Darius found themselves in the now quiet temple, the eerie silence amplifying the magnitude of their situation. The locket felt cold in Elara's hand, and the responsibility of what they had to do next weighed heavily on her heart.

"I've heard tales of the Oracle of Luminara," Darius mused, rubbing his chin. "But they were mere children's stories, meant to scare us into obedience."

Elara looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "Whether myth or reality, we need to find her. She might be our only hope."

Darius nodded, "Agreed. But where do we start? The tales never mentioned her location."

Elara opened the locket, studying the portrait of Seraphina's brother. As she touched the image, the locket warmed and began to glow faintly. Within the portrait, the background shifted, revealing a cascade of waterfalls surrounded by luminescent flora. "It seems the locket will guide us."

Darius, wide-eyed, whispered, "The Luminescent Falls! That's at the edge of the Whispering Woods.