Chapter 13 Echoes Of Betrayal

The night outside the sanctuary was still, but inside, the group was restless. The battle had left everyone on edge, their nerves frayed and their tempers short. Alex sat in a corner of the sanctuary, staring at the glowing runes of the seal. The light pulsed faintly, as though alive, a silent reminder of its power and his connection to it. Ella approached him cautiously, her footsteps light on the cracked stone floor. She carried a small mug of herbal tea, the steam curling upward in delicate spirals. “You should drink this,” she said, her voice soft. “It’ll help.”