The whispering grew louder, and Dorian felt like he was being pulled towards the trees. He took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the rustling leaves.
"What do you think it's saying?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dorian listened intently, trying to make out the words. The whispering seemed to be a gentle, soothing melody, but he couldn't quite decipher the message.
Suddenly, the whispering stopped, and the trees stood still. Dorian felt a sense of anticipation, like he was waiting for something to happen.
And then, a figure stepped out from behind one of the trees. It was a woman, tall and statuesque, with skin that seemed to shimmer like the moon.
"Welcome, travelers," she said, her voice like music. "I have been waiting for you."
Dorian's eyes narrowed, unsure of what to make of the woman. "Who are you?" he asked.
The woman smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I am a guardian of the Shadowwood," she said. "And I have been tasked with revealing a great secret to you."
Kael's eyes were skeptical. "What secret?" he asked.
The woman's smile grew wider. "The secret of the Shadowwood's purpose," she said. "And the truth about your journey."
Dorian felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. What could the woman possibly reveal? He leaned forward, eager to hear her words.
"Tell us," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The woman nodded, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. "The Shadowwood is not just a place of darkness and shadow," she said. "It is a gateway to a greater reality, one that lies beyond the veil of the mundane world."
Dorian's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. What did it mean? And what lay beyond the veil of the mundane world?