Time slipped by, and night fell fully, the sky a blanket of stars. The camp was quiet, save for the crackle of fires and the soft murmurs of resting elves.
Renjiro sat near a fire, Elaria beside him, when the sound of hooves broke the stillness. Lorien returned, her face lit with quiet triumph as she dismounted.
"Your Majesty," she said, bowing slightly. "We followed the coordinates from the Philosopher's Stone. The gold mine's real—it's on the other side of the mountain, tucked in a narrow valley."
Renjiro stood, his eyes gleaming with purpose. "Good work, Lorien. Lead the way. We move now."
The elves packed quickly, their movements swift and silent. Under the starlight, they followed Lorien's team across rocky paths and up steep slopes.
The mountain loomed above them, its barren peaks jagged against the sky. After hours of climbing, they reached a wide ledge overlooking a dark valley.
There, glinting faintly in the moonlight, was the entrance to the gold mine.
