The Silent War
The journey back from the ancient chamber felt longer than it should have. The echoes of the pendant’s revelation still rang in Zahra’s ears, and each step felt heavier than the last. She and Kael walked in silence, the weight of the task before them hanging like an unseen burden.
As they emerged from the hidden passage, the mist seemed to welcome them, swirling around their feet like a living thing. The forest, now whole once again, felt different—darker, as though the shadows within it had deepened, knowing what had been uncovered beneath their roots. Zahra’s heart quickened with each step, as though the land itself were holding its breath, waiting for what came next.
Kael glanced at her, his gaze unreadable. “What now?”
Zahra tightened her grip on the pendant. “Now, w
