The sound of footsteps disrupted the darkness and peace in the forest as faint glows of mana lanterns lit up a part of the area. Their soft blue light showed the weary faces of the search party and the path they were treading.
Shadows of the trees, as the light flickered with each step, became long. Those lanterns were the only source that was cutting through the otherwise impenetrable darkness. The group moved cautiously, with each step they looked around and most definitely trying to look through the weed to not get bitten by a venomous creature. Their numbers were divided by fear, determination, and weariness.
Some murmured nervously, voices barely louder than whispers.
"We should have waited until morning. This is madness…"
"We can't stop now," a braver one said as he brandished his blade and cut through the dense weeds ahead. "We're close. I can sense it."
