The trail remained narrow, swallowed by fog and the twisted roots of ancient trees. Liora led the way, her steps firm and measured, but there was a tension in the air that seemed to grow with every passing moment. Kael walked beside her, feeling the weight of the heavy silence that accompanied the group. Exelia remained alert, her eyes sharp as arrows, ready for any sign of danger.
The group of dark elves, with their dark armor and piercing gazes, maintained a tight formation around the three. The sound of their footsteps was muffled by the dense vegetation and the carpet of silvery leaves that covered the ground.
Suddenly, a sharp crack cut through the silence like a dagger. The sound came from the left side of the trail, near a tree with black bark and luminescent cracks. Before anyone could react, a dark elf walking discreetly in the rear fell abruptly, a thin poisoned dart stuck in his head. His body plummeted like a puppet cut from its strings.
