*Briella*

The air was thick with the scent of burning herbs and the murmurs of ancient incantations. I stood off to the side, my heart thumping in my chest like a relentless drum. Drius, Kryzen, and Kai flanked me, their expressions etched with the same mix of hope and tension that I felt clawing at my insides.

"Are we prepared for what might happen?" Drius asked, his hazel eyes scanning the room, reflecting the flickering candlelight. His voice was steady, but I could ...