59

As the child stepped through the shimmering portal, he felt a surge of relief wash over him. The oppressive, otherworldly atmosphere of the Blackwood's heart had been replaced by the familiar sights and sounds of the forest he had come to know so well.

Anya, Phillip, and Damien followed close behind, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and triumph. Ezra and Selena brought up the rear, their gazes sweeping over the group with a mixture of concern and resolve.

"We've bought ourselves some time," Ezra said, his voice low and serious, "but Damian's ambitions are far from over."

The child felt a shiver of apprehension run down his spine. While they had managed to thwart the man's immediate plans, he knew that Damian would not rest until he had seized the power of the Blackwood for himself.

"What do we do now?" the child asked, his voice tinged with a sense of uncertainty.

Ezra's expression darkened, and the child could see the weight of responsibility etched into the older man's features