Chapter 28

The setting sun cast long shadows over the ancient trees that surrounded Lucius. It was a place untouched by time, a hidden grove deep within the heart of the forest, far from the eyes of the world. The leaves rustled in the breeze, and the wind carried whispers through the branches. It was as if the earth itself knew of the momentous choice Lucius was about to make, and it sent warnings on the air. Lucius stood in the center of the grove, a figure of power and command. His hair gleamed in the fading light, and his piercing gold eyes were fixed on the horizon. He had come here with a purpose, a choice that would define his future. Revenge was the fire that burned within him, and he would stop at nothing to achieve it. But the whispers of the forest played on the edge of his awareness. The leaves danced in the wind, and the trees seemed to murmur secrets to one another. The earth beneath his feet trembled, a subtle warning that echoed through his bones. It was as if nature itself trie