The air in the sanctuary was charged with anticipation. Every movement, every whispered conversation seemed to carry the weight of what was coming. Liora could feel the tension rising, not just within herself, but among everyone around her. Kaelan would come. It was only a matter of time, and when he did, the sanctuary would be the last line of defense against his wrath.
Liora stood at the edge of the sanctuary, watching as members of their small community gathered in the clearing. The peaceful energy that had once flowed so freely through this place was now focused, intense, as if even the sanctuary itself knew that the time for action had arrived. Flowers that once bloomed with quiet beauty now stood sharp and tall, their petals glowing with a defensive magic that seemed to pulse in rhy
