Chapter 13
The Hermit's Farewell
Elias encounters the hermit one last time. The old man offers a final piece of advice, a subtle hint about the gem's true potential and the importance of belief.
The air in the hermit’s hut was thick with the scent of dried herbs and woodsmoke, a familiar comfort that Elias had come to associate with wisdom and a gruff sort of kindness. He sat on the rough-hewn stool, the Sunstone nestled carefully in a pouch at his hip, its gentle warmth a constant reminder of his purpose. The hermit, his face a roadmap of wrinkles etched by sun and time, stirred a pot over the crackling fire. The stew, Elias suspected, was as much a test of patience as it was a meal.
"So," the hermit grunted, his voice like stones tumbling down a slope, "you have it then. The shiny bauble."
Elias’s heart gave a small, hopeful leap. "Yes, Elder. The Sunstone."
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