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Midnight’s Embrace: A Tale of Moonlit Romance

"Midnight's Embrace" follows Lysandra, a florist deeply connected to the moon, who meets the enigmatic Evander. Their magical bond sparks a moonlit romance, leading Lysandra on a journey beyond her mystical town, Luneville. Together, they explore love, magic, and self-discovery under the celestial dance of the night sky.

Azure277 · แฟนตาซี
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296 Chs

Chapter 154: Whispers of the Past

Morning light bathed the village of Keldan in a warm, golden hue as Lilith and Elian made their preparations to leave. The immediate threat had been dealt with, but Lilith's mind still buzzed with unanswered questions. The connection between the darkness in Greystone and the ancient force beneath Keldan had unsettled her deeply. She couldn't shake the feeling that they had only uncovered the beginning of something much larger.

As they packed their horses, Faelan approached, his face etched with both gratitude and lingering fear. "I've already spoken to the villagers," he said. "No one will go near the hills again. We'll do our best to stay vigilant, but… I can't help but feel we've only delayed the inevitable."

Lilith nodded, her expression solemn. "You're right to feel that way. The darkness we encountered—it's old, older than this village, older than any of us. I believe this land is tied to something much more dangerous, something that has been hidden for centuries."

Faelan looked uneasy, but he bowed his head respectfully.

"Thank you for everything you've done. If you learn more about what's happening, please don't forget about us."

"We won't," Elian assured him. "We'll keep in touch, and if you notice anything—anything strange, even small—send for us immediately."

With that, Lilith and Elian mounted their horses and turned toward the road that led back to Eldoria. The villagers waved them off, but there was an unmistakable tension in the air—a silent acknowledgment that while the danger had passed for now, the shadows of the past were never far behind.

As they rode away from Keldan, the landscape slowly changed. The dense forests and jagged cliffs gave way to rolling fields and open skies, and yet, the sense of something dark and ancient followed them like a shadow.

Elian rode beside her, his face serious as he broke the silence. "We need to figure out where this all started," he said. "The caves in Greystone, the pit in Keldan—these aren't just random places of power. There's something connecting them."

Lilith nodded, her thoughts mirroring his. "We need answers. And I think the land holds them."

Elian glanced at her.

"What do you mean?"

Lilith took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts. "The land itself—it's old. These villages, these places we've been, they're built on top of something ancient. I've been thinking about the stories we've heard from villagers, the legends passed down through generations. What if the land has been carrying these dark forces long before any of us were here? What if there's a forgotten history buried beneath the surface?"

Elian's eyes narrowed, considering her words. "You think there's more to this than just the shadows? Something even older?"

"I do," Lilith said. "We need to find someone who knows the land's history, someone who might be able to help us understand what we're dealing with."

Elian nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I agree. There must be records, stories, even rumors of these ancient forces somewhere."

As they continued their journey back to Eldoria, Lilith's mind raced with possibilities. If there were ancient powers buried beneath the land, forces that had been awakened by the actions of the villages, they needed to find the source—and quickly. But where would they even begin to look?

By the time they reached Eldoria, the sun was dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields. The village was as lively as ever, with children running through the streets and villagers tending to their daily tasks. It was a comforting sight, but Lilith knew they couldn't afford to rest for long.

They were greeted warmly as they entered the village, but Lilith and Elian's minds were already focused on the next step. They made their way to Merek's home, knowing that the head of the council might have some insight into where they could find the information they needed.

Merek welcomed them inside, his eyes bright with curiosity. "You're back. How was Keldan?"

"We dealt with the immediate threat," Lilith said, sitting down at the table. "But what we found there… it's connected to something bigger. Something older than the shadows."

Merek's brow furrowed. "Older? What do you mean?"

Elian leaned forward. "There's an ancient force tied to the land—something that's been hidden for centuries. The caves in Greystone, the pit in Keldan—they're not just random locations of dark power. They're connected to something much larger."

Merek listened intently, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. "If what you're saying is true, then this is more dangerous than we realized. You're talking about forces that could have been here since long before our villages were founded."

Lilith nodded. "That's exactly what we're thinking. We need to find someone who knows the history of this land—someone who might have records or knowledge of these ancient powers."

Merek was silent for a moment, his eyes distant as he thought. Then, slowly, he nodded. "There is someone who might be able to help. An old scholar named Oryn. He's lived in a village to the north, near the ruins of an ancient temple. He's dedicated his life to studying the land's history and the old ways."

Lilith's heart quickened. "Do you think he would know about these forces?"

"If anyone does, it's Oryn," Merek said. "He's eccentric, but he's brilliant. He's spent decades piecing together the old stories, the myths, and the legends that most of us have forgotten."

"Where can we find him?" Elian asked, already preparing himself for the next leg of their journey.

"His village is called Aelmir," Merek explained. "It's not far, just beyond the northern woods. But be warned—Oryn doesn't take kindly to visitors. He values his solitude."

"We'll make sure he understands the importance of what we're dealing with," Lilith said firmly.

Merek nodded, though his expression remained cautious. "Just be careful. There are things in those woods that even Oryn doesn't speak of."

Lilith and Elian thanked Merek and left his home, their next steps clear. They would travel to Aelmir and seek out Oryn, hoping that the old scholar held the key to understanding the ancient powers beneath the land.

As they made their final preparations, Lilith couldn't help but feel the weight of what lay ahead. They were venturing into unknown territory, searching for answers about forces older than the villages themselves. But they had to find the truth—before the darkness could spread any further.

The next morning, with the rising sun casting a pale light over Eldoria, Lilith and Elian set out once more. The northern woods loomed in the distance, dark and mysterious, but beyond them lay the answers they sought.

And perhaps, buried deep within the forgotten history of the land, they would find the key to stopping the ancient forces that threatened to consume everything.

For now, they rode toward the unknown—toward Oryn, and toward the truths that had been hidden for centuries.