[Orange Herald Butterfly Notification]

[You have found the Firefly Lantern!]

[Quest Completed: Finding the Firefly Lantern!]

[Reward: 50 Experience Points, Firefly Lantern Item added to Inventory...]

Elowen felt something glowing red on her wrist, but she was too tired and injured to focus on it. It looked like a butterfly charm. She could sense it wasn’t rough or cold, but smooth and wet. It wasn’t the dungeon; it was the forest. This meant they were alive and had made it out. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around, confirming that she was definitely in the forest, safe and free.

The Orange Herald Butterfly fluttered into view, signaling the completion of her quests. Elowen gathered all her remaining courage and sat up. She turned her head around and gazed at the dark forest in amazement. It was like the entire forest had been enveloped in a halo of white. It stretched out from the horizon, giving it a mystical yet peaceful appearance. Even the forest floor was blanketed in a thin layer of frost which reflected a hazy silver glow. Elowen let out a sigh of relief, relaxing against the cool breeze. The lantern was lying near her, dim and cold, its light long extinguished. She extended her hand to touch it.

It was a stunning object, its rounded glass body shimmering like a crystal orb filled with swirling mist. Intricately woven silver vines spiraled around it, adding an ethereal beauty that made it seem almost alive. Inside the lantern, tiny, luminescent fireflies flitted about, their soft, golden light pulsating gently like a heartbeat. The glow cast mesmerizing patterns on the forest floor, creating an enchanting aura that lit up the surrounding darkness.

As Elowen drew closer, she noticed delicate silver filigree motifs resembling leaves and stars adorning the lantern's frame, further enhancing its mystical charm. At the top, a small handle shaped like a crescent moon beckoned her to lift it. When she grasped the lantern, a faint, melodic hum filled the air, like a distant lullaby that soothed her frayed nerves. The warmth radiating from it felt like a gentle embrace, rekindling her spirit as she realized the lantern's true purpose-it was not just a source of light, but a beacon for lost souls, guiding them home.

Slowly, the lantern vanished into the air, and she raised her head. There was no sign of any monsters lurking around, but the atmosphere still made her feel uneasy. The last thing she wanted was for it to vanish completely. Just as she started to think about returning home, she noticed movement to her right and noticed some shadowy figures appear in her peripheral vision. She turned to look around when suddenly her system activate flickering in front of her eyes.

[Silver Herald Butterfly Notification]

[Quest Completed: You have successfully fulfilled the first task. You now have the option to explore the forest further. Completing side objectives may yield valuable rewards]

Elowen let out a sigh as she read through the notification. Finally she got the chance to explore the unknown world. Maybe her curiosity will keep her focused for a little longer. Suddenly her gaze immediately drawn to Kael. He lay a short distance from her, his eyes closed in unconsciousness. There was something strange, a glowing yellow butterfly charm on his wrist, catching her attention.

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She tried to stand, but then a sudden thought struck her. She had been injured in the dungeon. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked down at herself, and instinctively, she untied Kael’s shirt from around her waist to check her own wounds. To her surprise, she found herself perfectly fine, her body healed. How…? She wondered, her mind racing to understand.

She quickly rose to her feet, panic setting in, and ran over to Kael. He too seemed unharmed, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. She needed to make sure they were both safe, and Kael needed to wake up.

“Kael? Wake up!” Elowen cried, shaking him gently. His eyelashes fluttered open. “Are you okay?!”

Kael blinked a few times before focusing his bleary vision on her. “Yea… I think so… why are you shouting? What happened?”

“We’re in the forest!” Elowen exclaimed excitedly, unable to contain her happiness.

"What about the others? Did anyone survive?" Kael asked, sitting up with great effort and stretching his arms.

Her expression soured instantly.

"No. There were no survivors. Just you two." They heard someone's voice, and Elowen looked back to see who it was.

"Balthazar," she whispered his name, an emotion rising in her throat. He was standing near the tree, his eyes cast downward as he stared fixedly at a particular spot in front of him. Elowen followed his gaze—and saw that he was staring at Kael, but she ignored it and looked up at him again, noticing that he wasn't alone. Eamon was also standing behind him. Both Balthazar and Eamon were also wearing the glowing yellow butterfly charm on their wrists.

"What? No one survived?" Kael looked surprised, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"No," Balthazar said, his voice cold, almost emotionless.

"So, it was you who dragged us out?" Elowen's eyes narrowed, still not entirely understanding the situation.

Balthazar turned toward Elowen and his expression softened. His gaze lingered on her, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips.

He nodded, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "Yes... it was me. I never thought I’d see you here, Elowen."

Elowen's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name. She stared at him, a mixture of confusion and concern in her eyes. “How long have you been here, Balthazar?”

Balthazar ran a hand through his hair, the weight of the past month weighing heavily on his features. "I don't know... probably a month. The herbalist, she... she asked me to find the keys if I wanted to save my family from the Malice Bloom Plague." His voice faltered for a moment, and he took a deep breath, as though the mere mention of the plague was enough to bring the pain back.

Elowen’s eyes softened in sympathy. “So, you’ve been doing this... for your family?”

Balthazar looked away, the weight of his secret still heavy in his heart. "It wasn’t just for them, Elowen. It was for everyone. The plague... it doesn't discriminate. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing."

A silence lingered between them, thick with unspoken emotions. Kael shifted uncomfortably but remained silent, sensing the tension between the two.

Finally, Elowen broke the silence. "The keys... Are they really the answer?"

Balthazar nodded slowly, his face a mask of uncertainty. "I believe they are. But there's more. The keys alone won’t be enough. We need to stop the source... and I don’t know if I can do that alone."

Elowen stepped closer, determination in her eyes. "Then you won’t be alone, Balthazar. We're in this together."

Eamon nodded, his voice steady. “We’ll find a way. We always do.”

Balthazar looked at both of them, the weight of his past lifting slightly. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe in hope. It was a dangerous road they were treading upon, one filled with dangers and uncertainties. They weren’t going to get back to Ferelden unscathed. If only they had a better chance of survival then maybe they would reconsider taking this risky path.

“Thank you,” she whispered softly.

Slowly, they walked towards the other side of the forest, scanning the area and listening for any unusual sounds. They paused when they picked up a faint rustling of leaves. Turning, they looked in the direction of the sound and listened closely. Straining their ears, they heard a soft meowing from a small hole concealed within the tree bark. They stepped toward the spot and carefully peeked inside. The moment they opened their eyes, they spotted two black eyes watching them cautiously from within the opening, almost daring them to do something. The eyes slowly blinked before disappearing into the tree.