Suddenly, she felt a shift in the atmosphere. The warm breeze turned cold, and the light around her seemed to dim. Whiskers, who had been lounging nearby, leapt to his feet, his eyes wide with alarm.
Lily immediately sensed what was happening. "Elara! Caelum!" she called out, her voice tinged with urgency.
Elara and Caelum rushed outside, their expressions tense. They didn't need to ask what was wrong—the change in the air was unmistakable. Something was coming.
And then, from the shadows at the edge of the forest, figures began to emerge. They were similar to the shadow creatures Lily had fought before, but these were larger, more solid, and more menacing. Their glowing eyes fixed on the cottage, and they advanced with a chilling purpose.
But it wasn't just the creatures that worried Lily—it was the presence she felt behind them. A familiar, cold presence that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Elara," she whispered, "he's here."
Elara's eyes darkened as she nodded. "Alistair."
Caelum stepped forward, his expression calm but deadly serious. "Lily, Elara—prepare yourselves. This will be a fight unlike any you've faced before."