As Kaelen made his way deeper into the heart of the forest, the dense canopy above blocked out most of the crimson sky, casting eerie shadows across the ground. Each step he took felt heavy with the weight of his thoughts. He couldn't shake off the faces of the three elves—Galandor's wise smile, Elowen's gentle kindness, and little Flores' innocent eyes.
Anger boiled inside him, directed not at them, but at himself. The realization that there was nothing he could do to help them escape the forest gnawed at him. He clenched his fists.
'If i manage to get out of here...'
He thought fiercely.
'I'll do whatever it takes to learn more about this cursed forest. I won't leave them behind.'
His mind was a whirlpool of determination and frustration, but he pushed through it, focusing on the task ahead. He finally reached a clearing that felt far enough from where he started. Breathing heavily, he reached into his satchel and retrieved the relic Galandor had given him.
