Chapter 12: Through the Portal**

Chapter 12: Through the Portal**

As Khalid and Elara stood before the glowing portal, she handed him a small, enchanted pendant. "This will help you find your way back to Eldoria if you ever need to return," she explained.

Taking a deep breath, Khalid stepped through the portal. The world around him swirled into a kaleidoscope of colors, and he felt the familiar pull of magic guiding him through time and space.

When the disorienting sensation ceased, Khalid found himself standing in the same cave where his journey had begun. He felt a rush of relief and joy but quickly realized that something was terribly wrong. The air was thick with an unnatural stench, and an eerie silence hung over the land.