After clearing the village and tending to the wounded, the group set up camp at the outskirts, where the forest met the plains. A soft breeze rustled the grass, and the sky deepened to twilight hues.
Jace tossed another log onto the fire, glancing at Rolan. "So, that trick with the obelisk—you always know how to break evil artifacts, or is it just a hobby?"
Rolan gave a faint smile. "You pick up a few things when you're hunting cursed relics. Besides, conduits like that follow a pattern—corruption needs a focal point to spread. Disrupt the flow, and the structure collapses."
Kieran leaned back against a fallen log, Rag curled up at his feet. "The cult leader mentioned the corruption consuming the land. If they're preparing for a widespread ritual, we need to figure out where it'll start."
Mira glanced over, thoughtful. "If they're using conduits to weaken boundaries, they might be targeting ancient sanctuaries—places with inherent protection against dark magic."
Bram rubbed his chin. "There was a sanctuary near the old capital—Valenhold. It's said to have the strongest protective wards. If they're planning something massive, that's the place to break."
Rolan's eyes darkened. "If they shatter Valenhold's defenses, it won't just corrupt the city—it'll spread to the surrounding provinces. We'd be looking at a disaster on an unimaginable scale."
Jace stretched his legs. "Guess we know where we're headed, then. Valenhold it is."
As the fire crackled, Mira pulled out her map, tracing the route with her finger. "We'll have to cross the Graywood and the river delta to reach it. Maybe three days if we push hard."
Kieran nodded. "We'll leave at dawn. Get some rest while you can."
Silence fell as each of them settled into their bedrolls, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on them. Rag lifted his head, ears perked, but Kieran just gave him a reassuring pat.
Sleep came fitfully, haunted by dreams of shadows and fire. When dawn broke, they packed their gear and moved on, determination driving them forward. As they trekked through the dense forest, Rolan lagged behind, lost in thought.
Mira slowed her pace to walk beside him. "Something bothering you?"
He hesitated. "Valenhold... it's where I lost someone important. If it's corrupted now... I'm not sure I can face it."
Mira placed a gentle hand on his arm. "We'll make it right. You're not alone this time."
Rolan gave a slight nod, the hint of a smile breaking through his guarded expression. Further ahead, Jace called back, "Hey! Less brooding, more moving! We've got a city to save!"
With renewed resolve, they pressed on, the road winding through tangled roots and dense foliage. Somewhere far off, a distant howl echoed, but they paid it no mind. Whatever awaited them at Valenhold, they would face it—together.