The light of the grove lingered in Lyla’s mind, a fleeting comfort that seemed to dim with each passing day. The victory over the corrupted land had been a triumph, but it had come at a price. The forest’s whispers grew louder, more insistent, their urgency pressing on her like a physical weight. The battle with Kane was far from over, and Lyla knew that every step forward brought them closer to a confrontation that would determine the fate of them all.

Back at the Blackwood camp, the ...