The journey back to the kingdom felt like walking into a storm. Every step Elena took seemed heavier than the last, the weight of their mission pressing down on her shoulders. The Echoes had set off early the next morning, determined to push forward despite the knowledge that the kingdom, with all its political and religious complexities, awaited them like a looming tempest.
As they made their way through the dense forests, Elena couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and she instinctively slowed her pace. The priests' spies were everywhere, and their eyes were sharp. They would be expecting someone to return, to challenge their power—and Elena knew they wouldn't go down without a fight.
They traveled in silence, the echo of their footste
