_Pandora's POV_
As I stood there, the weight of Elder Samuel's passing bore down on me like an unrelenting storm. It was a cruel twist of fate that he, our last hope in confronting Elena's dark magic, had been taken from us so suddenly. I had never expected that he would die, especially after he had seemed to show signs of improvement earlier in the evening.
Elder Samuel was supposed to be the one who could affront Elena's dark magic, to provide us with the guidance and knowledge needed to combat her growing power. Now, with him gone, it felt like our chances had been extinguished. I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss and despair.
Elena's abilities were a formidable force, and it was clear that her mastery of dark magic had reached a level none of us had anticipated. I knew
