The silence that followed the healing of the western village was welcome, but it did not last. The whispers had fallen quiet, yet the air itself seemed to hum with an uneasy anticipation. The birds had stopped singing, and the wind carried a chill that had nothing to do with the changing seasons. The shadow had been pushed back, but it had not been destroyed. It was regrouping, gathering its strength for one final assault. It was like a wounded animal, cornered and desperate, ready to strike with all the fury it had left.Elias felt it first. He stood on the balcony of the royal den, his ancient eyes fixed on the horizon. The sun was setting, but the sky was not painted in its usual shades of gold and pink. Instead, it was a deep, bruised purple, as if the heavens themselves were holding their breath. The Heartstone pulsed faintly in his hand, its light flickering like a candle in a storm, struggling to stay alight against an unseen wind."It is coming," Elias said, his voice low and
Read more