*Briella*
The air was thick with the scent of burning herbs and the murmurs of ancient incantations. I stood off to the side, my heart thumping in my chest like a relentless drum. Drius, Kryzen, and Kai flanked me, their expressions etched with the same mix of hope and tension that I felt clawing at my insides.
"Are we prepared for what might happen?" Drius asked, his hazel eyes scanning the room, reflecting the flickering candlelight. His voice was steady, but I could tell by the subtle furrow in his brow that he was as anxious as the rest of us.
"Prepared as we'll ever be," Kryzen replied, his gray eyes fierce and focused. He stood with the commanding presence of one born to lead, yet there was a gentleness about him, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of our task.
