The journey to the Spring Palace was anything but peaceful.
If Ren had expected a simple walk through Hedgegrove, the Fey Realm quickly proved him wrong.
Every corridor of the living maze seemed determined to throw a new challenge in their path.
Their first encounter came when a herd of rampaging Topiary Black Bears burst through one of the market districts.
The massive beasts, sculpted entirely from living vines and enchanted wood, thundered through the streets like runaway siege engines. Merchant carts splintered beneath their paws as frightened Fey civilians scrambled for cover.
One bear locked onto Ren and Elena before charging headlong at them.
"Incoming!" Elena shouted.
The pair sprang into action.
Ren rooted the lead bear in place with gravity magic while Elena leaped forward, her blade flashing in a graceful arc. Within moments, the entire pack lay defeated, dissolving into piles of enchanted leaves and broken branches.
