The Spine of the Earth now pulsed with a regular, strong rhythm, spreading through the cavern like a soothing, ancient lullaby. But this peace had not calmed the storm within the group.
The return to Grimhold was silent and heavy. Korvan and the warriors were in deep shock rather than celebrating a victory. Selene... had been one of them. They had raised her, believed in her. This betrayal had opened a wound deeper than any blow from an external enemy.
High Priestess Elara received them in her chamber at the highest tower of Grimhold. Her face was as still as a statue, but the lines around her eyes seemed a little deeper.
"Tell me about her," she said, her voice unwavering.
Moaito and Sere recounted what had happened. They told her Selene's words, her intolerance for pain, and her view of the Void as a savior.
Elara looked out the window at the rugged mountains for a long time. "I knew she was... sensitive," she whispered, almost to herself. "Even as a child, she was more upset than the other children when an animal died. We tried to teach her that pain is part of life, that it strengthens us. But it seems... I failed." Finally, she turned to them. "That is my mistake. And it led to the exposure of Grimhold's darkest secret."
"Secret?" Sere repeated.
"Selene was not just a priestess," Elara explained, her voice heavy. "She was an 'Echo.' Someone very rare, capable of feeling the world's emotions and pain directly. We tried to train her to cope with this ability. But it seems the Void... reversed it. It turned her from a channel of empathy into a point of vulnerability. She felt the pain so intensely that she was willing to sacrifice everything to be rid of it."
This explanation put everything into place. It wasn't just a betrayal; it was a tragic transformation.
"This only confirms our next move further," said Moaito, maintaining his composure. "The Void's threat doesn't only come from outside. It feeds on weaknesses in our strongest places. Kael's rage, Lyrian's skepticism, Selene's sensitivity... all have been used as weapons."
"And the 'Daughter of Night'?" Sere asked, still feeling the chill from the drawing on the ancient parchment. "Is Selene her?"
Moaito shook his head. "No. Selene is powerful, but not on that level. The 'Daughter of Night' must be a much more ancient, much more powerful being. Selene is just... a symptom. A herald of a greater sickness."
This thought made the air in the room even heavier.
For the next few days, there was an air of preparation in Grimhold. They could no longer wait passively. Selene's escape might have compromised the fortress's location. Furthermore, they had cleansed two of the four main points (Fire and Earth) and neutralized another (Wind). The final target, the Eye of Water, was clear.
Korvan assembled a scouting party. "The Eye of Water is said to be at one of the farthest points of the 'Endless Ocean' to the west. We'll need a ship and experienced sailors to reach it."
Elara told them everything she knew from ancient maps and legends about the Eye of Water. It was described not just as a body of water, but as the source of all ocean currents and life itself. If the Void corrupted it, all marine life and climates would collapse.
When the time came to leave, the entire population of Grimhold gathered to see them off. They now looked upon them not just as hope, but as their saviors.
An old woman pressed a small, stone-carved fish figurine into Sere's hand. "For the seas to bring you luck, dear child," she said, her eyes welling up.
Sere clutched the figurine tightly. This small gesture warmed her heart. They were no longer fighting just for themselves and Moaito, but for the people of Grimhold, the villagers in the valley, and every life they could touch.
Moaito spoke with Elara one last time. "Kael and Selene may return. Be vigilant."
Elara nodded. "We are prepared now. You go and find the Eye of Water. We will handle the battle here."
They exited through Grimhold's hidden gate once more. But this time, a small detachment of Korvan's elite warriors accompanied them. Their path led down from the mountains, to the western coastline, and from there, to unknown seas.
Sere looked back at the hidden gate of Grimhold. They were leaving behind a home stained by pain and betrayal, yet also filled with incredible resilience and hope.
Moaito stood beside her. "Don't look back," he said, his voice unusually soft. "The path ahead is longer than what we leave behind."
Sere took a deep breath and looked at the road stretching before them. Yes, the road was long. But they were no longer alone. And with every step, they grew a little stronger.