The Awakening Within

Alaric tossed and turned in his bed, his mind unable to find peace. The events of the last few weeks weighed heavily on his shoulders, and though Lucy's recovery had brought him some relief, the mystery surrounding her curse and the Silverclaw family kept gnawing at him. As he drifted off into an uneasy sleep, he found himself plunged into a dream, one that felt all too familiar.

In the dream, Alaric stood in the center of a vast, shadowy expanse. The air around him was thick with an oppressive energy, and the ground beneath his feet shifted and pulsed like it was alive. Tendrils of darkness writhed across the landscape, reaching out toward him, whispering words he couldn't quite understand.