d moved through the thick foliage, but the oppressive weight of the forest seemed to hang over them, as if wa

ing the surroundings with suspicion. He seemed unshaken, though Evelina could tell the fight had taken a toll on him. His breath

ng the silence. "The relic is close, but it's no

, watching them, testing them. And she had the distinct feeling that their battle had only been the beginning. As t

ng the entire place appear as if it had risen from the earth itself. It was a temple, Evelina realized, though it was unlike any she had seen before. Its design was not of human hands, its ar

weight of something ancient and powerful in the air, as

hisper. He turned to Evelina, his gaze softening for a

e her feel both reassured and anxious at the same time. She nodded, stepping closer to him. The path before t

made Evelina's skin prickle, and she could hear faint whispers, like a distant song, drifting t

faintly. Atop the altar lay a small, intricately designed box. It was no larger than a man's palm, but it

to her very soul. It was the relic, she realized- the key to everything.

e back of her n

dows seemed to come alive. The temperature in the room plummeted, and the whispe

g man clad in dark robes, his face obscured by a hood. His presence filled

said, his voice low and cold, like the chill that

ce was commanding, filled with an authority that see

ont of Evelina, his sword raised, his body tense

is that you will not take it." He raised his hands, and the shadows in the room seemed to converge around him,

or whatever he was-stand in her way. But something deep inside her made her hesitate. T

ntly beneath the hood. "The relic is mine to guard.

hand on his arm, her voice steady despite the fear tightening

with contempt. "What you seek is not meant for your kind. The forest has

t from Sir Alden's sword. Darkness engulfed them, and Evelina's heart hammered in her chest. She could n

's voice echoed from the darkn

sing in, the ground beneath her feet trembling with the power of the ancient magic that filled the temple. But as t

ir Alden, she took a step

ing," she said,

elina stood tall, her gaze fixed on the relic that la