Everyone in the group stood there staring blankly at the old vendor, their faces reflecting a mixture of shock and disbelief. Nobody knew what to say in response to such devastating news. The weight of the revelation hung heavy in the air around them like a suffocating fog.
'The gates aren't closing? What does this even mean?' Arthur's mind raced with terrifying possibilities. 'If we're not able to stop this catastrophe from happening in just one district, what happens when more gates start popping up in other locations across the realm?'
The grim reality of the situation was sinking in for all of them. They were all thinking the same dark, troubling thoughts, their minds conjuring worst-case scenarios that seemed increasingly plausible. The silence stretched uncomfortably until finally Lara found her voice and spoke up.
