Elion stepped closer, his robes brushing the floor, eyes scanning the room as though measuring the invisible threads of power. "You've done extraordinary work here. Your students are progressing faster than I anticipated… faster than I even hoped." He paused, a shadow crossing his features. "But there is something you must consider. An opportunity—and a danger. It concerns a place I know you never thought you'd want to visit again."
Lira felt her chest tighten. "A place I… never wanted to see?" she repeated carefully. Her mind instantly went to the memories she had long tried to bury.
Elion's gaze was steady, almost gentle. "The village… the one touched by darkness, the one you left behind. The demon village. There are circumstances there now that may require your attention—and your unique understanding of multielemental harmony. The situation is delicate, and your presence could tip the scales, for better or worse."
