Chapter 297 You Don't Have To Carry This Burden Alone

The days blurred together as the group pressed on through the mountains. The cold winds of the highlands bit at their skin, and the rugged terrain tested their endurance, but the journey seemed less taxing than the invisible weight they carried with them—the Heartstone and the growing uncertainty of what lay ahead. Ariella’s connection to the shard had become more intense, its pulsing light now a constant hum within her, like a heartbeat of something ancient and powerful. But with each passing moment, she could feel the strain, the power threatening to consume her if she wasn’t careful. The dreams—vivid, terrifying dreams—had become more frequent, filling her nights with whispers and visions of a kingdom long forgotten.