Cassian's hand slowly reached for his sword as his eyes flicked toward the direction of the troll. He didn't say anything—just raised a hand slightly to signal the others to stop talking.
Lumine noticed first. Her eyes widened. "Wait…" she whispered, turning her head toward the bushes.
The troll was no longer lying where it had been. The ground was disturbed, the shape gone, and the only thing left was the faint scent of earth and something foul lingering in the air.
"…Where the hell did it go?" Wanni whispered, already gripping her staff tighter and scanning the trees.
"I knew this would happen," Robert muttered, voice a mix of fear and regret.
Everyone stayed still, the air suddenly heavier, every creak of the forest now sounding just a little too loud. A soft thud echoed from the left—heavy, deliberate. Then another. Something large was moving.
Cassian slowly moved into a crouch, eyes locked in the direction of the sound. "It's awake. And it's not far."
