The trio pressed forward into the thickening fog, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Every shadow seemed to shift, every whisper of wind carried an eerie chill.
Suddenly, from the mist emerged a figure cloaked in tattered robes, eyes glowing faintly. "You tread where mortals should not," the stranger warned, voice echoing like a distant storm.
Lysara stepped forward, holding the vial tightly. "We seek to break the curse that binds this land. Will you aid us, or stand against us?"
The stranger's gaze softened briefly. "The Veil's power corrupts all it touches, even those sworn to guard it. Choose your allies carefully, for not all shadows are enemies, and not all light brings salvation."
As the figure vanished back into the mist, a deeper resolve settled among them. The path ahead was treacherous, but their purpose was clear.