In the dead of night, the starry sky stretched endlessly.
The radiant moonlight gently drifted over the mist hovering above the Mist Forest, serene and mystical, like an illusion realm from the celestial palace.
The forest was eerily quiet, absent even the faintest chirping of insects.
Suddenly.
Crack!
The sound of a dry leaf breaking shattered the silence.
As the mist roiled, a ragged white-haired elder emerged from its depths.
His hair was disheveled and grey, his thin frame seemingly just skin and bones. Yet, his movements were agile, steps firm and powerful. His complexion was ruddy, resembling a robust man in his prime.
At this moment, the elder's eyes were half-open, his pupils dull and listless. His face was vacant, as though sleepwalking.
Step, step, step...
A rhythm of synchronized footsteps approached from afar. A group of people broke through the mist, appearing just as dazed as the elder, wandering aimlessly into the forest.
