CHAPTER 110 THROUGH THE WOODS

Minerva The morning dew clung to my pyjamas, dampening the fabric as I navigated the dense forest. My boots squelched with each step over the rugged terrain, the forest floor a mixture of damp earth and tangled roots. I moved swiftly, the hidden path to Meredith's secret hideout etched in my memory. The early light filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows that danced around me as I pressed forward. "Don't look back, Minerva, "I muttered to myself, both a reminder and a comfort. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual rustling of leaves and distant calls of birds absent this morning. It felt as though the very trees were holding their breath, waiting. I reached a familiar clearing, the entrance to Meredith's hideout hidden behind a thick curtain of vines. Taking a deep breath, I recited the incantation she had taught me. The ancient words rolled off my tongue, the syllables foreign yet strangely familiar. "Gaia, spirit of the earth, guardian of secrets, allow