The biting chill of the early morning forest was a stark, almost violent contrast to the suffocating heat of Cassandra's bedchambers.
Damp pine needles crunched under our heavy leather boots as the squad pushed deeper through the mist-shrouded canopy.
Ahead and to our flanks, a half-dozen of the scouts moved in loose formation, their hands hovering near the hilts of their blades, keeping a vigilant eye out for cultist scouts or mutated beasts.
Our objective was simple enough, retrieve an uncorrupted ward stone dropped during the prior skirmish along the northern perimeter before the miasma creeping from the capital could taint it.
Beside me, Sira adjusted the strap of her crossbow, her breath pluming in pale clouds against the cold grey light.
"I know I've said it already," she murmured, breaking the rhythmic hush of the forest. Her amber eyes glanced toward me, carrying an earnest, lingering warmth.
"But thank you, Jin. I owe you my life."
