The morning arrived with a sky painted in muted grays, the sun barely piercing through the thick clouds. A heavy silence hung in the air as Elena stood at the edge of the camp, staring at the distant outline of the Ruined Sanctum. The stories about the place had been endless—whispers of ancient power, of forgotten gods, of things that should never have been disturbed.
But now, she and her companions were walking straight into it.
Serin adjusted the straps of his satchel, his usual playful demeanor replaced by quiet determination. "I gathered what I could from the town. Lanterns, extra water, dried rations. I also got some maps from an old merchant, but..." He hesitated, shaking his head. "They don't tell us much. Just that the place is cursed."
Kael scoffed. "Of course. Because nothing
