As the last echoes of Alaric’s departure faded into the wind, the village stood still, a mix of uncertainty and hope in the air. The earth itself seemed to exhale, its oppressive weight lifting for the first time in generations. Zahra and Kael stood side by side, their eyes scanning the village as the villagers began to slowly move forward, uncertain but undeniably changed.
Zahra’s thoughts were a whirl of emotions. She had known the curse had been strong, but she hadn’t anticipated the sheer weight it would leave behind. They had broken its hold, but the scars would remain. Not just in the land but in the hearts of the people. The healing would take time, perhaps even longer than the breaking of the curse itself.
“Do you think they’re ready?” Kael asked quietly, his voice a soft rumble
