The eastern woods were silent, the thick trees looming like ancient sentinels watching over the land. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine, a far cry from the noise and chaos of the city. Elric’s boots crunched softly on the forest floor as he moved cautiously, his senses heightened, his mind racing. He had arrived at the old ruins where Alara had told him to meet, but there was no sign of her. Only the stillness of the forest greeted him.He was used to waiting, used to the quiet before the storm, but tonight felt different. The air itself seemed to pulse with a sense of foreboding, as if the very woods were alive with secrets.A sudden rustling in the underbrush snapped Elric from his thoughts, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of his sword. His eyes darted around the clearing, searching for any signs of movement."Elric," a voice whispered, and he turned to find Alara stepping out from the shadows, her face grim."You were followed," she said, her eye
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