They arrived at the edge of Verdara, the great emerald forest where the trees breathed magic and the ground hummed with ancient life. Lira moved like a wisp among the leaves. Kaelin followed, his nerves taut.
It began with silence—too perfect to be natural.
Then, movement. The forest erupted.
Stoneborn.
Twice a man's size, their granite skin cracked with glowing green veins of elemental earth. The largest bore a club of petrified oak wrapped in vines.
Kaelin barely raised his hand when the first one lunged. Lira vanished into the air, reappearing above the creature with twin daggers drawn. She drove them into its neck—sparks flew as steel met stone.
Kaelin ducked as the club swung toward him. He rolled, drew upon the shard's power. Flame surged through his arm. He thrust his palm forward—
A jet of white-hot fire struck the creature square in the chest. It roared, stumbling back, smoldering.
Another came. Kaelin dodged, then slammed his fist into the ground. Flame erupted in a ring, encircling both of them. The fire responded to his will—coiling, dancing, consuming.
Lira landed beside him, eyes wild. "The map! It's in their den! We need to break through!"
Kaelin nodded. He took a deep breath, then ran straight at the largest Stoneborn.
Its massive arms came down. He slid beneath the blow, rolled, and planted both hands on the ground.
Inferno.
A torrent of fire exploded upward, engulfing the monster. It screamed—a sound of grinding boulders—before falling to its knees. Cracks spread across its body, and it shattered.
The rest fled.
Smoke curled from Kaelin's fingertips. He stood trembling.
Lira exhaled slowly. "You're stronger than I thought."
"I didn't even know I could do that," Kaelin said, staring at his hands.
She smiled. "Then let's find out what else you can do."