#Chapter 240: The Silent Elder

Olivia

The pale blue color of the full moon draped itself over the clearing like a blanket, transforming the environment into a realm of mystique. The grass shimmered like a sea of silver, the standing stones whispered tales of an age gone by, and all around was a tangible hush, as if the world held its breath.

But I felt anything but calm.

The hooded woman stepped forward with a deliberateness that sent shivers down my spine. It was as though time seemed to bow to her, each step syncing with the rhythmic beat of my own heart.

She came to a halt right in the center of the moonlit stage nature had crafted. Resting my hand on Nathan’s shoulder, I felt him become tense as the stranger came closer, his protective growl adding a base note to the nocturnal symphony around us.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice carrying authority I wasn’t quite sure whether I felt or not. The mystery of the stranger’s shrouded face made it all the more daunting.

Silence stretched between us, like a tangible