The wind howled as dawn broke over the ridge. A biting cold accompanied the rising sun, and the shadows of the eastern lands stretched ominously before the group. The Black Fortress loomed in the distance, its dark spires seeming to pierce the sky. Despite the vast landscape before them, it felt as though the shadow of the fortress enveloped everything.

Kalen awoke, still haunted by the dream from the night before. The memory of the hooded figure’s voice echoed in his mind: *You are not ready*. He had pushed it aside during their ascent, but as they stood on the brink of enemy territory, the words weighed heavily on him.

The group gathered their things quickly. Mistress Lira was unusually quiet, her sharp eyes scanning the terrain below as she led them down the mountain pass. They moved with a sense of urgency now. The time for hesitation had passed, and once they crossed the boundary into the eastern lands, every step would be filled with danger.

As they descended into the valley below, the path became rough and jagged. The rocks underfoot were loose, and more than once, Kalen had to catch himself to keep from sliding. The further they went, the more the natural beauty of the landscape seemed to fade, replaced by an eerie stillness.

"I don’t like this," Lenya muttered under her breath, her hands resting on the hilts of her daggers. "It feels too quiet."

Aric grunted in agreement, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We should’ve encountered something by now. Scouts, beasts—anything. This silence is unnatural."

Kalen didn’t say anything, but he shared their unease. The closer they got to the Black Fortress, the more the land itself seemed to resist them. The trees, once tall and full of life, were now twisted and gnarled. The air was thick with a sense of dread.

"Keep your focus," Mistress Lira called back to them, her voice steady. "We’re entering the eastern lands. Expect resistance soon."

Kalen tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, feeling the familiar hum of power as his icefire energy surged through him. He could feel the cold creeping into his fingertips, balanced by the steady warmth of the fire. It was the only thing keeping him grounded as they moved deeper into the enemy’s territory.

Hours passed as they navigated the rough terrain, the Black Fortress looming ever closer. The landscape became more desolate with each step. What had once been a thriving forest was now nothing more than dead trees and barren soil. It was as if the life had been drained from the land itself.

As they approached the base of the cliff that held the fortress, Mistress Lira raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

"Something’s wrong," she said, her voice low. "There should be sentries, wards, something. But there’s nothing."

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Master Kael stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "It’s a trap. They’re waiting for us to make the first move."

Kalen felt a shiver run down his spine. He glanced at Lenya, who had drawn her daggers, her posture tense and ready. Aric stood like a stone pillar, his earth power subtly shifting the ground beneath him, ready to defend them at a moment’s notice.

Mistress Lira turned to the group. "We need to approach carefully. They know we’re here, but they’re watching, waiting. We’ll split up. Kael and I will create a distraction. The three of you will enter through the side entrance."

Kalen’s heart pounded in his chest. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but the thought of splitting up made the danger feel even more real.

"Are you sure that’s wise?" Lenya asked, her voice tight with concern. "We’re stronger together."

"We are," Mistress Lira agreed. "But right now, we need to draw their attention. You three are fast and can slip in unnoticed. Once inside, find the source of their power. Destroy it if you can. That’s our best chance."

Kalen swallowed hard, exchanging glances with Aric and Lenya. This was it. The moment they had been training for.

"Understood," Aric said, his voice steady. "We’ll handle it."

Mistress Lira gave them a firm nod. "Good. Stay sharp, and remember—we don’t know the full extent of what we’re dealing with. Expect the unexpected."

With that, Mistress Lira and Master Kael moved off into the shadows, their presence blending with the landscape as they prepared to create the distraction.

Kalen, Aric, and Lenya moved in the opposite direction, skirting the base of the cliff toward the side entrance Mistress Lira had mentioned. The air grew colder as they approached, the wind howling through the narrow passageways. The fortress seemed even more imposing up close, its black stone walls towering above them like a prison.

The side entrance was a narrow, almost hidden doorway carved into the rock. Lenya moved forward first, her lithe form slipping through the shadows as she scouted ahead. Kalen and Aric followed closely behind, their senses on high alert.

Inside, the air was even colder, the walls damp and slick with moisture. The narrow corridor they entered was dimly lit by torches mounted on the walls, their flames flickering weakly as if they struggled to stay alight. The sound of dripping water echoed through the stone halls, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"We’re in," Lenya whispered, her eyes scanning the darkness ahead. "No guards, but we need to move fast. This place gives me the creeps."

They moved cautiously, their footsteps barely making a sound as they navigated the winding corridors. Kalen’s pulse quickened as they delved deeper into the fortress, the weight of their mission pressing down on him.

As they rounded a corner, Aric suddenly froze, holding up a hand to stop them. Kalen squinted into the dim light, and that’s when he saw it—an elaborate rune etched into the floor ahead, faintly glowing with an ominous red light.

"A trap," Aric whispered. "Wards to alert them of intruders. We need to be careful."

Kalen’s mind raced. This was no ordinary fortress—its defenses were ancient, powerful. Whoever had placed these wards knew what they were doing.

"I can disable it," Lenya said, her voice low. "But it’ll take a minute. Keep watch."

Kalen and Aric nodded, taking up positions on either side of the corridor as Lenya knelt by the rune, her fingers tracing the intricate lines. She muttered something under her breath, and Kalen could see the faint glow of her wind element swirling around her hands.

As she worked, Kalen’s mind wandered back to the dream, to the hooded figure. He had tried to push it away, but the figure’s words haunted him. *You are not ready.* Was it a warning? Or a taunt? And why had the figure singled him out?

Suddenly, Lenya cursed under her breath, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What is it?" Kalen asked, his voice tense.

"It’s more complicated than I thought," Lenya replied, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Whoever set this up is no amateur. I need more time."

Before Kalen could respond, a low rumble echoed through the corridor. The ground beneath their feet began to vibrate, and a dark, oppressive energy filled the air.

"They know we’re here," Aric said, his voice grim. "We need to move."

Kalen’s heart raced as he gripped the hilt of his sword, his icefire energy flaring to life within him. The fortress itself seemed to pulse with a malevolent force, and Kalen knew they were running out of time.

Lenya worked faster, her hands a blur as she tried to disable the rune. The air around them grew thick with tension, and Kalen could feel the presence of something powerful approaching from deep within the fortress.

"We’ve got company," Aric muttered, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the same thing.

Kalen’s grip tightened on his sword as the oppressive energy grew stronger, the darkness of the fortress closing in around them. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t going to be friendly