Chapter 256 Alliances And Secrets

• The Shadow Council’s chamber dissolved behind them, leaving Ariella, Kaelen, Lyara, and Lumira standing on the edge of a sprawling forest. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and moss. They had passed the council's trials, but the weight of their revelations lingered.
• Kaelen broke the silence, his tone sharp. “We need to figure out what’s next. The relic may have chosen us, but it’s clear there’s more to this than we thought.”
• Ariella nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere. The trials had shaken her, forcing her to confront her deepest fears. She glanced at Lumira, who had been unusually quiet since they returned. “Lumira, do you know where we are?”