The air in the forest shifted as dawn approached. For the first time since entering the fae realm, Liora felt the magic around her begin to loosen its grip, the dense, oppressive weight that had lingered in the shadows now starting to fade. The light filtering through the trees was softer, gentler, and though the twilight still clung to the edges of the world, it was clear that something was changing.
Liora walked beside her guide, the rogue, who moved silently through the forest, their hooded form barely disturbing the quiet of the morning. The path before them had begun to brighten, the twisted branches overhead parting to allow slivers of golden light to reach the forest floor. With each step, Liora felt the weight of the fae’s influence slip further from her shoulders. The change was
