### 1. PROSE EVIDENCE
*   **Early:** "The sound wasn't the rhythmic panting of a wolf or the heavy rasp of a bear; it was the sound of grinding stones, of dry earth cracking under a summer drought."
    *   *Commentary:* This effectively leverages sensory metaphors to establish the supernatural, "unnatural" nature of the threat.
*   **Mid:** "It was roughly the size of a stag, but its limbs were too long, moving with a disjointed, twitchy gait that defied the natural physics of bone and joint."
    *   *Commentary:* The description successfully creates a sense of the "uncanny valley," fitting for a YA fantasy horror element.
*   **Mid:** "She projected the image of the root into the psychic static of the forest. The earth didn't just tremble; it buckled."
    *   *Commentary:* This provides a clear, visceral manifestation of Elara's 30% arc progress where she acts as a "conduit for magic."
*   **Late:** "The shadows… they aren't part of him. They’re a blanket, a… a shroud."
    *   *Commentary:* The use of hesitant, searching language reflects Elara’s transition from scholar to intuitive magic-user.
*   **Late:** "The steel didn't hit flesh; it struck the obsidian shard with the ringing sound of a hammer on an anvil."
    *   *Commentary:* This provides a sharp, auditory anchor for the climax of the fight, making the magical interaction feel physical and high-stakes.

### 2. CHARACTER VOICE AUDIT
The Project Context does not include a specific "Voice Signatures" block; however, checking against the **Character State** and **World State**:

*   **ELARA:** 
    *   *Line:* "I hear its intent... Believe me or don't, but if you go left, you’re dead."
    *   *Vocabulary/Tics:* YES. Uses internal sensory language ("I hear its intent") consistent with her "conduit" role.
    *   *Forbidden Patterns:* N/A (None listed).
    *   *Emotional Register:* YES. Skeptical but determined, moving from "exhausted" to "defiance."
*   **THORNE (Identity Continuity Issue):**
    *   *Line:* "Don't look back for me, Elara. Just get to the hollow oak."
    *   *Vocabulary/Tics:* NO.
    *   *Emotional Register:* NO. This character appears to be a **Major Continuity Error** (see Section 4). Silas is the established guide/protector in the Whispering Grove. Thorne is an Elder in Oakhaven described as "UNTRUSTING" in the NPC Memory.

### 3. STRENGTHS TO PRESERVE
*   **Elara’s Arc Progression:** The scene where she commands the forest ("'Let go of him!' she yelled... She projected the image of the root") perfectly mirrors the Project Context stating she has "accepted her role as a conduit." 
*   **The Vision Mechanic:** The transition into the vision ("The sky cracked... Veren tried to catch it") provides necessary world-building regarding the "Shadow King" without a stagnant info-dump.
*   **Silas/Companion Vulnerability:** The moment of tenderness ("his thumb brushed against the collar of her tunic") strengthens the bond and reflects the 25% arc where he moves from "guide to protector."

### 4. MUST-FIX -- CONTINUITY
*   **ORIGINAL:** "Stay behind me," Thorne hissed. [...] Thorne glanced back at her...
    *   **PROBLEM:** **Character Swap/hallucination.** The RAG context states Elara is in the Whispering Grove with **Silas** (who owes her protection). Thorne is the **Elder in Oakhaven** who is "UNTRUSTING" and stayed behind to report the "theft" to the Council. It is physically impossible for Thorne to be here protecting Elara with a sword while wounded.
    *   **FIX:** Replace all instances of "Thorne" with "Silas." Ensure his injuries (the "blooming red" bandage) are explained, as Silas’s state was "No injuries" at the end of Ch-03.
*   **ORIGINAL:** "...his hand white-knuckled around the hilt of his short sword."
    *   **PROBLEM:** Silas is a guide/protector on high alert. If this is Silas, it fits. If it remains Thorne, it violates the NPC profile of an elderly village leader who is currently hostile toward Elara.
    *   **FIX:** Attribute these actions to Silas.
*   **ORIGINAL:** "The Forbidden Glade," she said... "the Shrouded Vale... the Heart-Root."
    *   **PROBLEM:** The Project Context identifies the ritual location as the "Great Sentinel Tree" and the location as "Whispering Grove." While these could be new sub-locations, the sudden influx of three new Proper Noun locations in one paragraph is jarring and lacks grounding in the established state.
    *   **FIX:** Connect "The Heart-Root" or "Forbidden Glade" to the "Great Sentinel Tree" mentioned in the ch-03 context.

### 5. MUST-FIX -- CLARITY
*   **ORIGINAL:** "The sound wasn't the rhythmic panting of a wolf... it was the sound of grinding stones..."
    *   **PROBLEM:** The transition from the previous chapter is missing. Ch-03 ended with a "Great Awakening" and Silas owing protection. Ch-04 opens *in media res* in a cave without explaining how they moved from the Sentinel Tree to a cave.
    *   **FIX:** Add a brief sentence or flashback fragment explaining that the "Great Awakening" forced them to seek shelter in the limestone caves.
*   **ORIGINAL:** "His shoulder was bandaged in linen that was starting to bloom with fresh red..."
    *   **PROBLEM:** The Silas/companion character was uninjured in Ch-03. The sudden appearance of a serious wound needs one line of context (e.g., "The chase through the thorns had taken its toll").
    *   **FIX:** Add: "The shadow-stalker’s claw had grazed him during the flight from the grove, and the linen was starting to bloom with fresh red."

### 6. OPTIONAL SUGGESTIONS
*   **Optional:** Connect the obsidian shard to the Map.
    *   **Quote:** "She walked over to the spot... and picked up the obsidian shard."
    *   **Reason:** The context says the "map reacts to her blood." Having the shard physically repel or attract the map in her bag would tighten the "Open Loops."
*   **Optional:** Reference the "Blackwood Mercenaries."
    *   **Quote:** "It’s got teeth, and it’s between us and the path."
    *   **Reason:** The context says mercenaries reached the valley at sunset. Mentioning their torches in the distance would increase the ticking-clock tension.

### 7. FORBIDDEN CHANGES / NON-GOALS
*   **Do not change Elara’s "voices":** The voices being "static," "shrouds," or "rhythmic chants" is a specific manifestation of her magic.
*   **Do not "fix" Thorne/Silas’s dialogue to be more formal:** His "I’m just the idiot with the sword" line is a key YA character voice anchor.
*   **Do not remove the "Veren" vision:** While it halts the action, it is necessary to establish the "Shadow King" threat.

### 8. VERDICT
**REVISE**
**SCORE: 72**
**Justification:** The chapter suffers from a catastrophic character name continuity error. The text repeatedly places **Thorne** (the hostile Elder from the village) in the role of the protector in the woods, completely ignoring **Silas**, who is the established companion for this arc. This must be corrected to maintain narrative integrity. Additionally, the transition from Ch-03 to the cave needs grounding.