The tension among the guards, which had eased a little in the past few days, returned in full force the moment the caravan entered the pine forest.
Conversations ceased. Hands no longer left the hilts of their weapons. Even the spiritual oxen seemed nervous, sensing the unease of those controlling them.
Kyrian pulled on the reins of his horse, slowing down until he stopped. Yanyu did the same beside him, her eyes scanning the deep shadows between the trees.
"This is the place…" she whispered, her voice slightly tense.
Kyrian didn't reply immediately but closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them again, his sword-shaped irises reflected a faint light coming from a completely random spot in front of him. He was seeing. Not just the forest, but what seemed like the very fabric of the place.
And then he saw it.
It was almost invisible, a distortion in the air like heat. But to Kyrian's eyes, it was clear as water.
