A day and a half later, after traversing winding mountain paths, pushing through bat-filled mountain caves with dripping stalactites, fighting off monsters that blocked their way, and camping inside the mountainous forest, they finally reached a path that descended a cliff, with the vast expanse of the sea before them.
When they looked down, they saw a simple village with wooden buildings, nets laid out for drying fish, and many fishing boats sailing the ocean, casting nets. On the cliffside next to the village, a cave was visible, with a large ship emerging from inside, seemingly ready to depart.
Ard, who was smiling, turned to look at Vahn beside him. Ard was shocked to see Vahn's face looked tense, and his eyes were fixed on the forest behind his village. Ard looked down again in the direction of Vahn's gaze. His eyes immediately widened, seeing several Imperial soldiers observing the village from behind the bushes at the edge of the forest.
"Vahn, them," Ard whispered.
