The temporal vortex roared, a dizzying maelstrom of shimmering emerald and crimson light that engulfed Elara, Kaelen, Lyra, and Oberon. Elara clung to Kaelen's hand, feeling the temporal energy pull at her, stretching her senses, distorting reality. Images flashed before her eyes – not the past she had envisioned, but a kaleidoscope of fragmented moments, echoes of Havenwood through the ages, blurring like a faulty projector.

"Hold tight!" Kaelen yelled over the temporal roar, his voice strained. "The portal is unstable! It's trying to fragment us!"

Lyra snarled, her powerful frame shaking. "It feels like someone's trying to pull my teeth out one by one! And then put them back in the wrong order!"

Oberon, surprisingly calm amidst the chaos, his eyes closed, chanted a low, melodic Fae verse. "The magic is powerful, Thorne! Focus on the Chest! Anchor them to the ley lines!"

Elara nodded, her mind burning with the effort. She focused on the glowing chest, on the Fae symbols carved into its surface, on the image of the fully intact Echo Stone, envisioning Havenwood before the King's shadow had fallen upon it. The locket in her hand pulsed, resonating with the chest, absorbing the raw temporal energy. The vortex intensified, its colors swirling faster, drawing them deeper into the unknown.

Suddenly, with a jarring lurch, the maelstrom gave way to a gentle shimmer. They landed softly on what felt like solid ground. The air was cool, fresh, carrying the scent of pine and salt, a familiar comfort after the crypt's oppressive atmosphere. Elara opened her eyes, blinking against the soft, silver light that filtered through a canopy of ancient trees.

They stood in a lush, verdant forest, the light filtering through the leaves painting the ground in dappled patterns. The trees were ancient, towering, their bark a silvery grey, but the shimmering emerald glow was gone. The crystalline structures in the distance had vanished, replaced by rolling hills and a coastline that stretched out to a calm, sun-dappled sea. This was Havenwood, but not the Havenwood they knew. It was vibrant, untouched, teeming with an energy that felt pure, untainted by the Collective’s darkness.

"We made it," Lyra breathed, her golden eyes wide with awe. "This is… Havenwood. But it's different. It's… clean."

Kaelen scanned the surroundings, his expression a mix of relief and caution. "Before the King’s binding. Before the Echo Stone was fractured." He looked at Elara. "You did it."

Elara felt proud, yet disoriented. "Where are we? How far back?"

Oberon examined a small, iridescent flower. "Judging by the bloom cycle of the Moonpetal orchid, a rarity unseen in your time, I'd say… roughly five centuries. Before the Great War. Before the King's influence spread so widely."

Elara gasped. Five centuries. This was the Havenwood of her ancestors, before their sacrifice and the fracturing of the Echo Stone.

Lyra stated, "So, the plan is to find the fully intact Echo Stone, and keep the King from ever getting his hands on it."

Kaelen added, "Not just the Echo Stone. The Dark Echo. The King’s essence, sealed within it. We need to find both. And prevent the chain of events that led to the King’s original release."

A faint hum, a vibration that resonated with the locket, came from the deepest part of the forest. It was the Echo Stone calling, but also something else – a faint shadow, twisting through the pure energy.

Twist! The King's influence, while not yet fully manifested, already exists in this timeline, subtly corrupting the untouched Echo Stone, proving its power is more insidious and deeply ingrained than previously thought.

Elara whispered, clutching the locket, "The Echo Stone. It's close. But… there's a shadow. A faint corruption within it. The King's influence… it's already here."

Kaelen’s jaw tightened. "Impossible. The King was supposedly dormant until the binding."

Oberon mused, "Ancient evils have a way of lingering, even in the purest of places. A seed of darkness, waiting for the right moment to bloom. This complicates things."

Figures emerged from the forest's depths, cloaked in greens and browns, carrying staffs and bows. They were Fae, but stoic, watchful, their eyes holding a deep, ancient wisdom. Among them, a woman, tall and regal, her hair the color of spun moonlight, her eyes a striking emerald green that were undeniably familiar.

Lyra muttered, "Look what the temporal cat dragged in. This is going to be interesting."

The Fae leader stepped forward. Her emerald eyes locked onto Elara, then shifted to Kaelen, Lyra, and Oberon, her expression unreadable.

The Fae leader said, "Greetings, travelers. You are not from this time. And you carry a powerful resonance. The Echo Stone in your hand, child… it speaks of a future we have fought to prevent. Tell us, who are you? And what brings you to Havenwood in these perilous times?"

Elara felt a jolt of recognition. This woman… she was undeniably a Thorne. There was a familiar strength in her gaze, a wisdom that