When they reached the Forbidden Woods, the atmosphere was different - heavier, charged with magic that pressed down on them like a physical force. The trees here were older than the university itself, twisted and gnarled, their roots reaching deep into the earth. Here, time didn't move the same way. The magical energy of the woods seemed to stretch time, making everything feel just a little out of sync.
Suddenly, a massive form loomed from the shadows - a creature with scaled skin that shimmered like molten gold. Its eyes glowed like burning embers, and its body coiled in a way that suggested it was as old as the world itself.
Thorne's breath caught in his throat. "That's a Talon Serpent... but I thought they were extinct."
Lyra stepped forward, unafraid. "They were. But the magic of this place is waking them. It's the reason things are out of balance. Whatever Vortex Morrow is planning, it's awakening creatures long thought gone."
The serpent reared its head, its massive jaws opening to reveal fangs the size of swords. With a flash of movement, it lunged toward them.
Before Thorne could react, Lyra raised her hand and whispered an incantation in an ancient tongue. The serpent froze midair, its massive form suspended as if time itself had halted.
"You speak its language," Thorne said in awe, watching the beast's glowing eyes flicker with uncertainty.
"I don't just speak to creatures," Lyra replied with a hint of a smile. "I negotiate."
She stepped closer to the serpent, her voice soft and melodic. The creature's eyes softened, and slowly, it lowered its head, as if bowing to her.
For a long moment, there was only the sound of the wind in the trees, and then Lyra turned back to Thorne.
"We need to go," she said. "This is just the beginning."