The next morning, Dominic, Marcus, and Selene set out for Wyvern’s Rest once again. This time, they were accompanied by a contingent of city guards, a small but capable force that would help secure the village and investigate the dark magic they had encountered. The journey through the forest was more solemn than before; the weight of their mission was heavy on everyone’s mind.

As they approached the village, Dominic couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. The events of their last visit were still fresh in his memory—the twisted creature, the eerie silence of the forest, and the dark magic that had lingered in the cave. He knew that this time, they were diving even deeper into the mystery, and that the dangers they faced would be even greater.

When they arrived at Wyvern’s Rest, the villagers greeted them with a mixture of relief and anxiety. Loras, the village elder, was waiting for them at the edge of the village, his expression serious.

"Welcome back," Loras said, his voice grave. "We’ve done as you asked—kept the villagers close and away from the forest. But there’s been no sign of whoever—or whatever—was responsible for the creature."

Marcus nodded, his demeanor all business. "Good. We’ve brought additional troops to help secure the village. We’ll be investigating the cave in more detail today. If there’s anything you’ve noticed since we left, now’s the time to tell us."

Loras shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary, except for the strange dreams some of the villagers have been having. They speak of shadows, of being watched by something unseen. I don’t know if it’s connected, but it’s unsettling."

Selene frowned. "Dreams can be influenced by magic, especially dark magic. It’s possible that whoever is responsible is trying to weaken the villagers’ spirits, to make them more vulnerable."

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"We’ll look into it," Marcus said. "But our first priority is the cave."

With the village secured, Marcus, Selene, Dominic, and a small group of guards made their way back into the forest, following the path that Loras had shown them before. The trees seemed even more oppressive this time, their twisted branches casting long shadows that seemed to reach out toward them.

As they approached the cave, the sense of foreboding grew stronger. The air was thick with tension, and Dominic could feel the warmth of his magic stirring in response. The cave entrance loomed before them, dark and ominous, as if it were a mouth waiting to swallow them whole.

"We’ll go in first," Marcus said, addressing the guards. "Stay close, and be ready for anything."

The guards nodded, their expressions determined but wary. They were seasoned warriors, but even they could sense the unnatural danger that lay ahead.

As they entered the cave, the darkness closed in around them. Selene conjured a small orb of light, which floated above them, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The symbols carved into the stone seemed to glow faintly in the light, their meaning still a mystery.

Dominic stayed close to Marcus and Selene, his senses on high alert. The further they went, the more he could feel the dark energy that permeated the cave. It was like a cold, malevolent presence, lurking just out of sight.

When they reached the chamber with the altar, Marcus signaled for the group to stop. The altar was just as they had left it, but there was something different about the air—something more oppressive, more dangerous.

"Something’s changed," Selene murmured, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the chamber. "The magic here is stronger than before."

"Be careful," Marcus warned. "This could be a trap."

As they moved closer to the altar, Dominic felt the pulse of dark energy intensify. His own magic flared in response, the warmth within him pushing back against the cold, malevolent force. But there was something else too—a faint whisper, a voice that seemed to come from the very walls of the cave.

Dominic froze, straining to hear the words. It was a language he didn’t understand, but the tone was unmistakable—angry, desperate, and filled with a twisted kind of hunger.

"Do you hear that?" Dominic asked, his voice