[Orange Herald Butterfly Notification]

  [You have found the Firefly Lantern!]

  [Quest Completed: Finding the Firefly Lantern!]

  [Congratulations!]

  [Level 1 Achieved!]

  [New Reward Unlocked]

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

  Elowen felt something warm and red glowing on her wrist, but she was too tired and hurt to pay much attention. It looked like a butterfly charm. She noticed it wasn’t rough or cold but smooth and wet. She realized she wasn’t in the dungeon anymore—she was in the forest. This meant they had survived and escaped. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around, making sure she was really in the forest, safe and free.

  The Orange Herald Butterfly flew into view, a sign that her quests were finally complete. Summoning all her remaining strength, Elowen sat up. She turned her head and looked around in awe at the dark forest. It seemed as if the entire forest was surrounded by a soft, white glow, stretching out to the horizon, giving it a magical and peaceful feel. Even the ground was covered in a thin layer of frost, reflecting a faint silver light. Elowen sighed in relief, letting the cool breeze soothe her. Nearby, the lantern lay dim and cold, its light gone. She reached out her hand to touch it.

  The lantern was breathtaking. Its round glass body sparkled like a crystal orb filled with swirling mist. Delicate silver vines twisted around it, giving it an otherworldly beauty that made it seem almost alive. Inside, tiny glowing fireflies danced, their soft golden light pulsing gently, like a heartbeat. The light created beautiful patterns on the forest floor, lighting up the darkness with a magical glow.

  As Elowen moved closer, she saw intricate silver designs of leaves and stars decorating the lantern, adding to its mystical charm. At the top, a crescent moon-shaped handle seemed to call to her. When she picked it up, a soft, melodic hum filled the air, like a soothing lullaby that calmed her tired mind. The warmth from the lantern felt like a gentle hug, filling her with renewed hope. She realized the lantern wasn’t just a light—it was a guide for lost souls, leading them safely home.

  Slowly, the lantern faded into the air, and Elowen looked up. There were no monsters in sight, but the eerie feeling in the air still made her uneasy. She didn’t want the lantern to disappear completely. Just as she began to think about heading home, she noticed movement to her right. Shadowy figures appeared at the edge of her vision. She turned to look, but suddenly her system activated, its interface 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 sighed as she read the notification. Finally, she had the chance to explore this mysterious world. Maybe her curiosity would keep her going a little longer. Suddenly, her eyes were drawn to Kael. He lay nearby, unconscious, with a glowing yellow butterfly charm on his wrist that caught her attention.

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  She tried to stand, but then it hit her—she had been hurt in the dungeon. Her heart raced as she looked down at herself. She untied Kael’s shirt from her waist to check her wounds, only to find her body completely healed. How…? She wondered, her mind spinning with questions.

  Panicking, she jumped to her feet and rushed to Kael. He seemed fine too, breathing steadily. She needed to make sure they were both safe, and she had to wake him up.

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

  Kael blinked a few times, his vision clearing as he looked at her. “Yeah… I think so. Why are you yelling? What happened?”

  “We’re in the forest!” Elowen said, her voice filled with excitement and relief.

  “What about the others? Did anyone make it?” Kael asked, sitting up slowly and stretching.

  Her face fell at his question.

  Elowen turned to Balthazar, her voice barely above a whisper. “No. There were no survivors. Just you two.” She looked back to see who had spoken.

  “Balthazar,” she murmured, a mix of emotions rising in her throat. He stood near a tree, his gaze fixed on the ground, staring intently at a spot in front of him. Elowen followed his line of sight and realized he was looking at Kael, though she chose to ignore it. She glanced up at him again and noticed he wasn’t alone—Eamon stood behind him. Both Balthazar and Eamon wore the same glowing yellow butterfly charm on their wrists.

  “What? No one survived?” Kael asked, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.

  “No,” Balthazar replied, his tone cold and emotionless.

  “So, it was you who dragged us out?” Elowen asked, her eyes narrowing as she tried to piece everything together.

  Balthazar turned to her, his expression softening. His gaze lingered on her, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched 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 sound of her name. She stared at him, 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 heavy on his face. “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, and he took a deep breath, as if the mention of the plague brought back painful memories.

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

  Balthazar looked away, the weight of his secret still heavy. “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 heavy silence fell between them, filled with unspoken emotions. Kael shifted uncomfortably but stayed quiet, sensing the tension.

  Finally, Elowen broke the silence. “The keys… Are they really the answer?”

  Balthazar nodded slowly, his face uncertain. “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 on his shoulders lifting slightly. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to feel hope. The road ahead was dangerous, filled with uncertainty, and they wouldn’t return to Ferelden unscathed. But with Elowen and Eamon by his side, he felt a glimmer of possibility.

  “Thank you,” Elowen whispered softly.

  Together, they moved toward the other side of the forest, scanning the area and listening for any unusual sounds. They paused when they heard a faint rustling of leaves. Turning toward the sound, they strained their ears and heard a soft meowing coming from a small hole hidden in the bark of a tree. They approached cautiously and peered inside. Two black eyes stared back at them, blinking slowly before disappearing into the shadows of the tree.