When they emerged from the forest, it was late at night.
The entire team was mentally drained and physically exhausted.
Under normal circumstances, they would have pleaded to set up camp and rest hours ago.
But the fear for their lives had driven them to push forward in a relentless march.
As they felt that they had arrived at a safe distance from the forest, they could no longer find any strength in them to walk another step.
They collapsed onto the ground like lifeless corpses.
"My Lord, My Lady!" they begged, "Let us sleep right here on the earth.
We don't need tents, we don't need beds, we don't even need food—just sleep!
Please let us!"
Arin smiled.
"Alright," he said, granting their request.
He needed time to discuss things with Ragna.
Together, they walked away from the exhausted guards, putting some distance between themselves and the sleeping group.
Arin wasted no time filling Ragna in on what had transpired in the forest.
