|| CASSENDRA'S POV ||

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an otherworldly glow over the landscape as Zavier and I ventured into the heart of the village. The whispers of the villagers had led us to a secluded cottage, where an air of malevolence seemed to linger like an invisible shroud.

As we approached the door, a chilling wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the foreboding sense that we were on the brink of a revelation. Zavier, his eyes sharp and determined, nodded at me. "Cassendra, be prepared for anything. Arion is cunning, and we don't know what awaits us inside."

The door creaked open...