The dawn was cool and silent as Ciara rose from her makeshift camp. She tightened her grip around the Amulet of Elyndor, its warmth pulsing with reassurance. Her journey had led her to the threshold of the shadow realm, the last known location of the Shadow Veil. With the amulet's power mingling with her own, she felt her confidence growing, yet the shadow realm held an aura of foreboding unlike anything she'd ever known.
As she moved deeper into the darkening forest, the air grew thick with shadow magic. It was a power she was familiar with, yet here it was unyielding, pressing in on her as if to gauge her intentions. She centered herself, calling on the light within, feeling the Amulet's power amplify her strength. The trees seemed to close in, their branches bending like gnarled hands. A faint whisper echoed in the air, and Ciara sensed she was not alone.