“Did you really think that would be enough?” Elder Varyn’s voice echoed through the arena, piercing through the remnants of my triumph. I stood, still catching my breath, the lingering warmth of victory fading into unease.
“What do you mean?” I shot back, my heart still racing. The rush from defeating the creature had been exhilarating, but the doubt in Varyn’s tone twisted my stomach.
“There’s more at stake than you realize,” he replied, his gaze narrowing. “You’ve faced your fears, but the real battle lies ahead. The darkness we fight isn’t just a creature; it’s a force, a shadow that seeks to consume everything you care about.”
Zach’s grip tightened on my shoulder, grounding me as I processed his words. “What are you talking about? We defeated the beast. Isn’t that what matters?”
“T
