Byung and the dwarf had exited the underground tunnel through a concealed opening hidden beneath fallen logs and overgrown vegetation. They resurfaced in an unfamiliar location—a clearing surrounded by trees that looked ancient and twisted, their bark blackened as if scorched by old fires. The air here felt different, heavier somehow, carrying a scent of ash and something else Byung couldn't quite identify.
Byung looked around carefully, his enhanced senses scanning for threats or landmarks. It looked deserted—no signs of recent habitation, no paths worn by travelers, just wilderness that seemed deliberately avoided. He had never been to this region before, couldn't orient himself by familiar geography or remembered routes. But he knew he just had to follow the lead of the dwarf, trust that this strange creature who had orchestrated so much from the shadows knew where he was going.
