The moment the gates of the Whispering Forest closed behind her, Juliana was enveloped in an eerie silence. The air here was heavy, almost alive, carrying whispers that seemed to dance just out of earshot. It sent chills down her spine, but she steeled herself, focusing on the task ahead.
The Tear of Eternity. A mythical artifact. It sounded simple enough, but Juliana knew better. Nothing about the Whispering Forest was simple, and the council wouldn't have chosen this trial without ensuring it was as dangerous as it was symbolic.
The trees stood impossibly tall, their twisted branches reaching for the gray sky like skeletal fingers. Shadows shifted and moved as though the forest had a mind of its own. Juliana tightened her grip on the dagger strapped to her thigh. She couldn't rely on h
