The mist deepened as they ventured further into the Hollow Pines, the trees now towering over them like silent sentinels, their twisted branches creaking in the wind. The path that Dain had led them onto seemed to shift with each step, as if the forest itself was alive, rearranging the very earth beneath their feet.
Zahra's heart beat faster, the weight of the pendant around her neck a constant reminder of the power they were trying to wield. She could feel the pressure building, a pull that was both familiar and terrifying. The Shadowbinder’s influence was growing stronger by the moment, and the air felt thick with the promise of something terrible just beyond the next turn.
"Stay close," Kael said, his voice low but steady as he moved beside Zahra, his sword held ready. "Dain may be gu
