The morning sun peeked over the horizon, casting long shadows across our little camp. I stirred from my slumber, the unfamiliar sounds of this new land filling my ears. Birds I'd never heard before sang their morning songs, and somewhere in the distance, a creature let out a low, mournful cry.
As I sat up, I saw Zara already awake, her keen eyes scanning the surrounding wilderness. The trials of the temple had changed her, in ways both subtle and profound. The weight of leadership still rested on her shoulders, but now she wore it with a quiet confidence that warmed my heart.
"Morning," I said softly, moving to join her. "Any signs of trouble?"
She shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "No trouble. But plenty of mystery. This land... it's unlike anything I'v
