The forest seemed darker the deeper they ventured, the thick canopy overhead blotting out the sunlight. The air was heavy with a strange energy that made Juliana's skin prickle. She clutched the map tightly, her eyes scanning its glowing runes as she tried to decipher their meaning. The silence among the group was palpable, each step echoing with unspoken tension.
"Are we close?" Hak's voice broke the quiet, his tone sharp with impatience.
Selene stepped beside Juliana, her fingers grazing the map. "The markers suggest we're nearing the first trial. If I'm interpreting this correctly, it lies just beyond this ridge."
Jaxon, who had been scouting ahead, appeared from the shadows. "The terrain changes sharply ahead. There's a clearing, but it feels...off. I'd advise caution."
Juliana swa
