Chapter 21 The Sacrifice

• The next morning, the group was silent as they resumed their journey. The encounter with the Shadowborn had left an unsettling imprint on each of them, and no one spoke of it as the forest’s shadows stretched over their path. Lyra, clutching the orb within her pack, could still feel its quiet power humming through her veins, but the weight of responsibility was now heavier than ever.
• The forest grew denser as they approached the Heartwood’s core, its ancient trees looming like silent sentinels. Vines hung from the twisted branches, and the air was thick with magic. The closer they got to the Eldertree, the more intense the energy became, as if the very air was alive with anticipation.
• “We’re getting close,” Kylan said, his eyes scanning the darkened trees. “I can feel it.”