The journey had been smooth so far. After a few days of riding, the group was getting close to Gothia.
Gothia wasn't the best place for them to be at the moment, and they rode along the road. The initial excitement, especially Evelyn's, gave way to a cautious silence.
The group followed a map that Mikaela always kept at hand. To reach the Skull Volcanoes, the destination of Leonard's first mission, they would have to pass through a crucial point: the Vulture Forest, an unavoidable path.
"This forest… I don't like it," Kaleb grumbled, breaking the silence. "It's damp, dark, and full of... things."
Mikaela sighed. "We need to go through it, Kaleb. It's the fastest way. Any detour will add five days to our journey."
Leonard, lost in thought, barely heard the conversation. His mind drifted back to the training, to the words and the weight of responsibility he carried. He remembered Roland, Vulture's Forest, and the feeling of impending danger. A pang of longing hit him.
