Chapter 23: Gearing Up

"I will return," she promised, her voice steady, imbued with a strength she had not felt before. "I will find the Heart of the Moon and forge a future where Aiden and I can be together."

Elara took one final glance at her home before stepping into the morning. She walked towards the village edge, heading for the Whispering Woods. The worry that used to fill her thoughts had faded, leaving her with a firm resolve. Although the road ahead was filled with unknowns and risks, Elara had changed. No longer the woman who sat shaking at her table, she was now a seeker and artist, ready to use her magic. She felt prepared to meet whatever challenges the woods and her destiny might bring.

Except for a lack of supplies....and knowledge.