CHAPTER 79: THE SANCTUARY

The night was pitch black, and the morning hadn't brought any light. The wind bit into my skin, causing my teeth to chatter in the frigid air.

The fire must have died out.

With each shivering breath, I forced my eyes open, only to be greeted by an unwelcoming environment. I was still here.

It felt like waking up inside a nightmare, trapped within its confines.

"Serena?" My voice, hoarse and shaky, called out for the only ally I knew. But she was nowhere to be found. "Serena?"

I found myself lying on the cold, hard ground. The remnants of the fire stained the stones around me, and the log where Serena had been sitting remained undisturbed.

I was alone.

This was not promising.

Wrapping my cloak around myself for warmth, I clutched the sword at my waist.

"Serena?" My voice echoed through the trees, the birds mimicking it and sending ripples through the forest.

A deafening silence filled the air, so quiet that it was almost painful.

Suddenly, the ground beneath me started to shake.

The st