The landscape's changing fast," Leonard commented, frowning as he adjusted his horse's reins. The lush green grass and leafy trees of the past few days were giving way to dark rocks and barren ground.
"It better be changing," Evelyn grumbled. "Means we're getting close. And it also means we need to be extra careful."
"It looks like... dead land," Kaleb said, shivering. "Not a blade of grass, not an insect..."
"That's what you'd expect from a volcanic region, Kaleb," Mikaela replied, matter-of-factly. "Heat, ash, toxic fumes... it's not exactly paradise."
On the horizon, a colossal structure rose up, completely out of place in the desolate landscape. It was an immense tower, made of smooth, dark stone, with an archaic design and strange angles, nothing like the familiar architecture of Dunkel.
"What is that?" Leonard asked, fascinated and somewhat apprehensive.
