Chapter 286 Price Of Allegiance

• The road southward was grueling, the air thick with the stifling heat of the plains. The group had traveled for days, their journey long and arduous. The promise of Felaros' support was a glimmer of hope, but that hope was tempered by the looming shadow of uncertainty. With every step they took, Ariella could feel the pulse of the shard in her bag, its power both comforting and terrifying. She had seen the dangers that lay in wielding such force, but she also knew it was the key to defeating the Queen. The price of victory would be high—but the price of failure, even higher.
• ---
• As the group entered the northern borders of the Heartlands, the land became more rugged, with jagged cliffs and sprawling forests stretching into the distance. Here, the rebellion had made its presence known. Rumors of the gathering resistance had spread like wildfire, and Ariella could feel the tension building in the air. She wasn’t sure if it was excitement or fear that hung so heavily around them, but she knew that whatever lay ahead would test their resolve like never before.