The journey toward the capital seemed endless. Despite the haste with which they moved, the weight of the task ahead pressed heavily on Lia's chest, dragging her steps. Every shadow in the trees felt like an enemy waiting to pounce, and every crack in the earth felt like a reminder of how precariously they were balanced on the edge of danger. They had entered hostile territory, the ground beneath their feet as uncertain as their mission.
Lia's thoughts kept returning to Rhea's words. **The cost. The trials.** What had the Wolf God left behind in the ruins? And what price would she have to pay to claim the Heart? She couldn't shake the feeling that she was standing on the precipice of something much darker than she had anticipated.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the capital, th
