After the battle with the Ogre, we finally returned to our camp.
The air was heavy, and everyone moved quietly — exhausted and still processing the destruction we had witnessed.
Samuel gathered the group. "We need to rest and recover. But I'll send some scouts to survey the surrounding area. We can't stay blind to what's out there."
A few hours later, the scouts returned — their faces pale.
"What happened?" Samuel asked sharply.
One of them spoke, voice trembling: "We… we found bodies. Dozens of people… they were inside what seemed like an Ogre lair. More than twenty… they were… eaten."
A silence fell over us.
I felt a chill run down my spine. The forest suddenly felt much larger, much more dangerous.
"Then there must be a village nearby, or even a city," Samuel said grimly. "People were being captured and eaten… we can't ignore this."
We quickly gathered our supplies. Weapons were checked, arrows counted, and our stamina was renewed as best as possible.
Marco slung his sword over his back, rubbing his stomach. "I hope we find a city… I'm starving. I want real food, not berries or raw meat."
Hyun Woo shook his head lightly. "Do you even have money there? There must be some form of currency if it's a city."
Riku shrugged. "Let's just hope it's a village, or at least a place we can get some rest safely."
As we prepared to leave, the scouts returned — running, panting, urgency in their eyes.
"What is it?" Samuel demanded.
"Not a village…" one scout gasped. "It's… a city. A large city, with walls at least twenty feet high. People live inside… it's intact. They weren't aware of the forest outside, but it's fortified. It looks safe… and alive."
Samuel's face softened slightly, but he quickly regained his serious tone. "Good. But we can't just go in one by one. We regroup here, everyone together. No one goes ahead alone."
The group nodded.
The decision was made.
We would march together, leaving the forest behind, and head toward the city — hope and danger both waiting beyond its towering walls.
I checked my Sword and Shield of Anima again.
The forest gradually thinned as we moved forward, the sounds of distant creatures fading behind us.
And finally, on the horizon, we saw it: a massive city, surrounded by high walls, bathed in golden sunlight.
"Stay alert," Samuel said. "We don't know who—or what—lives there."
I gripped my sword tighter, ready for whatever awaited us.
The journey was far from over.