Morning glow filtered through the heavy clouds, casting an orange hue that meandered the veil of leaves and branches above our heads. The cold wind still raged on, unceasing and relentless; it carried the pungent scent of earth and rain as it blew softly from the southern sky.

I sat slumped against a large boulder, my cloak wrapped tightly around me as I watched the others still deep in their slumber. Sleep had evaded me once again, and my eyes dropped with the fatigue of another sleepless night.

As the quietude embraced the campsite, my weary eyes settled once more upon the crown on my lap, which I picked up and placed upon my head. It fit snugly over my brow, almost as though it belonged there all along.

A faint smile came to my lips with the thought.

"It looks good on you," said Naia with a laugh from behind me. "You look like you should be leading a parade."

I chuckled and returned the crown to her knapsack where it rested.

"Well aren't you an early riser today? You're usually snoring by now." I added with a teasing tone.

"Hard to catch a good sleep in this place" She answered with a yawn. "So why are you awake? I thought Talos was on watch duty today"

"No reason, I'm just restless."

"Just restless huh..."

The morning was cold and desolate, no different than yesterday or the day before. We had been walking for days without pause, chasing after scattered traces of a trail that seemed to grow fainter with every passing step. Each night we would rest beneath the sheltering canopy, only to rise at dawn with renewed vigor. Yet despite our efforts, each sunrise brought us one foot further southward from what we hoped to before delving deeper into the woods. Our progress slowed to a crawl, and our hopes grew dimmer with every mile we traveled.

Naia looked up at the peak of Mount Nihrain looming far overhead, It rose high above the clouds, piercing the gray sky with its jagged outline. Its summit was shrouded in mist, obscuring any view of the land across it. She seemed lost in thought as she gazed towards it.

"If we get an early start today, maybe we can be around on the other side of the mountain before dusk, " I suggested "Get them up".

They groaned as they stirred, rubbing their bleary eyes as we began to move out. They were stiff and sore from sleeping on hard ground, yet somehow managed to keep pace with me easily enough. We walked for hours until the sunset, the beautiful sunset of Bastanos fading away to nothingness. The dark of dusk descended quickly upon us, and soon we found ourselves stumbling blindly through the trees and branches as we moved ever farther southward. My legs burned with exhaustion and my breath wheezed in my chest. I felt as though if I stopped walking even for a moment, that I might never find the strength to keep going again.

It had been some time now since we last found a clear trace of the Insurgents, not a soul remained alive in these woods save those who served under my command. No sign could be seen of the warband from the encampment either, nor did the dead bodies and broken equipment remain to show evidence of battle. This ground was untraveled. We had gone deeper and farther than any man has dared venture before, searching for something none of us were certain even existed anymore. It didn't take an arcane sight to realize how treacherous the terrain here was becoming.

Every step took twice as much effort, every breath felt more labored than the one before. All five of us were beginning to feel the strain of pushing forward to quickly and too hard, and so I decided we make a short stop on the cozy banks of a small stream to allow everyone some rest. There, we ate our meager meals while sitting together on the shore of the water, watching it flow gently downstream.

"We won't be here for long," I said aloud "So don't get too comfortable"

I knew better than anyone else that this respite would only buy us a few moments' peace. Once darkness fell, we would have to resume moving, it is folly to stay put in such an open place like this.

"'twas 'bout time we took a bleedin' rest, Cap" said Talos with a chuckle. "Me legs 'urt worse than a whore's backside at the end o' a hard day!" he joked as he rolled his shoulders to ease some of the soreness out of them.

As we settled down, we decided to take a well-deserved break, giving our bodies a chance to loosen up and relax after our long wandering. We engaged in some much-needed stretching, attempting to release the tension that had built up in our stiff legs and sore backs.

Amidst the unadorned landscape that stretched out before us, there lay a cold, half-frozen stream of water. Its presence captivated our attention, drawing our gazes toward its simple beauty. The landscape around it lacked embellishment, offering a plain and uncomplicated vista. The stream, however, glistened with a delicate crystalline cover, as if nature herself had bestowed a modest adornment upon it. Its frozen surface exhibited the stubborn remnants of motion, the perseverance of a few unfrozen paths that pushed forward resolutely toward the eastern horizon.

I couldn't help but be captivated by the stream's hypnotic flow. Its waters, still partially bound by ice, moved with a determined spirit, forging ahead despite the obstacles in its path. I leaned closer, my gaze fixated on its course, wondering where it would lead, where its journey would ultimately take it.

Beyond the icy stream, the valley unfolded, encircled by the imposing presence of Mount Nihrain. The colossal mountain, cloaked in darkness, cast its shadow over the land, obscuring the celestial tapestry above. The stars, mere glimmers behind the black mass, fought to peek through, lending a faint twinkle to the wintry night. Despite the chill in the air, our coats, infused with the warmth of soul shards, provided a comforting shield against the cold.

"We stand on the doorstep of Nihrain," Naia spoke softly, her voice carrying a sense of anticipation. "Just a bit more walking that way, and we'll cross it before dusk."

I sighed, my eyes still fixed on the stream."So I hope,"

The sound of rustling paper startled me from my reverie, drawing me back into the present. Talos looked intently at the map on his hands with concern, but soon smiled mischievously as he lifted his head up in relief.

"Say's we're gettin' real close to our mark, Cap!" Talos exclaimed as he held up the map for all of us to see. His voice carried a bit too loudly, and the others turned their heads in confusion at the sudden outburst.

"We have made it so far, so quickly...?" Istar asked, surprised by the news.

"Well, I see no other river this wide, this far down south, so we must be close" Talos said reassuringly with a slight shrug.

"Don't get your hopes up just yet," I growled. "That is a very rough sketch of Nihrain's land. We don't yet know what we'll find behind the Mount, and we've yet to reach the Valley of the Withering Winds"

"Well, we have no better option but to trust these old maps," said Naia with confidence. "They've gotten us this far. Besides, we have a lot of time left before dark."

No sooner did we set back on our course than the landscape grew colder, the air around us took on a frigid touch that seemed to be penetrating right through nostrils and clothing. We pressed on, and we pressed harder. Our progress was slow and painstaking, but it would be a mistake to stop so close.

The sky began to darken swiftly and the light dimmed around us. Above, there was only Mount Nihrain, eyeing us ominously with its foreboding presence. The snow-covered path that lead us through the mountain was filled with patches of ice, and every step on it threatened to turn into a slip.

"Keep your head up and watch your footing!" I yelled to the group as we made our way carefully across the terrain. "And whatever you do, don't look down!"

We all followed on a closed line, keeping our gaze on the path before us, lest we risk losing our balance and plunging headfirst into a deep and dreadful crevasse. It took no small deal of effort to keep focused on the task at hand. As the freezing wind whipped against our backs, cutting through the warm layers of clothing we wore and the howling of the gale drowned out all other sounds around us, it felt as though our senses were slowly being numbed.

It was only a matter of time until we saw the end of the trail, when the tree-filled ravine came into view.

Slowly and silently it beckoned us inside. The transition was subtle yet apparent, hidden deep inside the new found horizon lay the ancient ruins of Nihrain, long since buried under centuries of dirt and stone. Vines clung to monuments of rock and marble rising from beneath the earth. They were once towering buildings, now crumbling and broken, serving only as husks of the greatness that once reigned here.

The trees surrounding this place had grown eerily tall, creating a dense canopy overhead. Their branches intertwined together, forming an impenetrable wall of greenery that blocked off any chance of moonlight reaching the ground below.

"We've made it..." I whispered in relief.

"The valley of Withering Winds..." Naia mused aloud. She glanced up at the ominous clouds swirling above, her eyes widening slightly. "How many tales, songs, and legends have been written about this place? And now here we are, standing on the corpse of glory..."

"We should tread carefully from here on out," Ger'tha cautioned "The ruins may not be safe anymore."

"I don't think these things will be falling anytime soon" Istar replied witha grin.

"I'm not talking about the structures themselves," he retorted. "The ruins that lie ahead may no longer be the abodes of fallen heroes, but the Insurgents may have left mark of their passing. Traps and snares may lurk in every shadow, poised to alert them of any unwelcome intruders."

"That is true" I agreed, "We'll move slowly and in a line, step where another has already stepped, and stay vigilant for anything that might trip us up or make noise."

The few scattered rocks covered in mosses were our main source of traction as we walked along the path. Every footstep echoed, tumbling on the trees and alerting some birds on our approach. The ravens flew away, cawing angrily at the intrusion into their territory.

Some time went by and the path led us deeper into the forested hills of Nihrain. Nothing stood out among the green, until Talos caught sight of a particular spot near one of the larger stones. He curiously moved towards it and stopped suddenly, his eyes widening in shock.

"Wait!" I yelled, a second too late.

All turned back and gazed upon him, his posture was stiff and his face pointed at his right leg.

"What is it, Talos?!" I asked as I hurriedly uncovered the dry leaves covering his right foot.

He didn't answer me, instead focusing hard not to lose control of his leg muscles. His breathing became ragged and heavy while sweat dripped down his forehead despite the cold weather.

"Talos! What the hell happened?" I demanded again, my voice becoming louder with each repetition, until i managed to unveil what laid underneath the leafy cover.

"I'm-I'm sorry..." he muttered between gasps of breath, still trying to hold onto the last bits of strength within himself.

"It's a red stalker trap! Quickly, bring that boulder!" I yelled.

Naia and Istar quickly ran over and carried it to my side. Together they lifted, bringing it closer and closer.

"When I tell you, get you foot off the ground immediately! Do NOT let go of my hand"

"I-I can't! I feel... something crawling on me..." He said with a tone of fear, his leg trembled and tears of pain ran down his face.

"You must trust me!" I said sternly.

"You two, drop the boulder on the mark as soon as Talos is free. We need to free him from its grasp before it takes hold of his leg completely."

With those orders given, I reached forward and grasped tightly onto Talos' hand and waist.

"Now!" I pulled and he jumped backward, snapping free from the strong hold of the trap.

The moment I released him, he fell backwards like a ragdoll and landed flat on the ground, barely conscious. Blood leaked freely from his right leg and his skin turned to a dark-ember red shading.

Naia and Istar followed suit, dropping the massive stone upon the mark. With a loud thud, it snapped onto the ground and the trap slowly consumed it and itself into ashes.

A collective sigh escaped all of us as we rushed over to aid Talos. He struggled feebly and tried to stand up, but was considerably weakend by the Ichorkinesis of the trap.

"The trees..." he grunted softly.

Together we helped him up and brought him to the nearest tree trunk so he could lean against it.

"The trees..." he repeated.

His words rang through my ears like bells in the wind. I looked around and saw nothing but lush foliage everywhere.

"What about it?, you're safe now, just rest and breathe, the effects will wear off soon enough." Naia comforted.

"No..." He shook his head violently and struggled to lift his arms.

I stared at him blankly for several moments, wondering if I had heard him wrong.

"Must be the shock, let the boy lose his mind for a bit, he'll snap out of it" Istar added "Let's keep moving, shall we?"

He lifted Talos on his back and we continued moving where we had left along, sharpened by the close encounter with danger. I casted a final glance back at Talos, his eyes clouded with despair. The momentary connection we shared carried an unspoken plea: Listen. Listen to the trees. But it was too late when I finally realized; we had already turned our backs on his fading warning.

"They're in the trees!" I yelled to the group

My companions halted instantly and turned their attention toward the sorrounding.

And then, as if the veil between nightmare and reality had been torn asunder, the true nature of the threat revealed itself. Istar, the staunch skeptic, was the first to react, his sword unsheathed and raised high. With a resounding battle cry, he charged towards the stalkers, his determination unyielding.

There were dozens of them, ravenous and hungry for battle. They swarmed around us quickly, completly overwhelming us with numbers. Our only hope lay in our blades, one by one we brought them down, some few managed to hit my armor with their dull swords or spears. One even got lucky and pierced the leather straps holding together my legplate, drawing blood across my leg. But our swords held firm in the face of such odds, cutting and slashing without mercy.

As fast as the stalkers came, they died faster than flies buzzing around a poisonous candle flame. The bloodshed had left us bereft of energy and covered in gore, both ours and theirs alike.

"I think that was the last of them..." Naia gasped out as she wiped away a stray strand of hair stuck to her bloodied forehead.

"Not yet!" I growled under my breath, looking around frantically for any sign of movement. My senses tingling, I felt every inch of the forest around me, searching for signs of danger yet looming upon us "Keep moving, we'll hide inside the old ruins until the danger passes."

We hurried forward, leaving the corpses behind in a trail of death and destruction. A few more steps took us to the edge of the clearing, revealing the hut of stone and wood that sat apart from sight on the side of the main path.

"This way," I called out, pointing ahead of us to the hut "Quickly."

All five of us raced inside to the structure, and Naia helped me cover the entrance with the long green vines that cascaded down and entwined themselves around the structure, creating a natural barrier that blended seamlessly with the surrounding foliage.

I slumped exhausted against the wall next to the doorway.

"Its only a matter of time before more come looking for revenge, we can't stay here forever."

"Where do you suggest we go?", asked Istar. His voice sounded tired, his blade hanging loosely in his hand.

"South, we can't turn back, not this close to the encampment."

"But they already know we're here!" confronted Naia "There'll be more waiting at this supposed encampment —if we even make it there!"

"Then let's leave them something else to look forward too! Let's move south and see what awaits us beyond these woods."

Ger'tha and Istar looked to the floor in grim agreement, still shaken by the events.

"Red Stalkers... living in these forests, how is that possible?..." Ger'tha asked in confusion.

"Working under Insurgent control, no doubt. Taming those savages must'nt have been easy..." Istar answered coldly.

"Questions can wait for later, right now we need to consider our plan of action, before we—"

My words were interrupted by the distant sound of approaching footfalls echoing over the forest ground. Multiple thuds shook the very ground beneath us, causing me to tremble uncontrollably. It didn't take much imagination to imagine the scale of danger that lingered outside this small haven of safety. We all huddled in silence, our breaths held in anticipation of the looming threat that encroached upon us.

Suddenly, the faint sound of metal clanking and rolling caught our attention, a curious object slowly made its way through the entrance. It was something oddly mechanical, its surfaces gleaming with a metallic sheen. As it rolled into the hut, wisps of glimmering smoke emanated from it, carrying with them a strange scent that felt untimely pleasing to the senses.

"What is that?" Ger'tha approached and fell limp on the ground like an empty sack of flour.

The others stared at the thing with great curiosity, but we knew.

Mesmerized and helpless, we watched as the smoke dispersed, swirling and enveloping the air around us. Its ethereal glow danced and flickered, casting an eerie radiance upon our fatigued faces. It was as if time had momentarily frozen, and our senses dulled by the hypnotic display.

Then, one by one, our bodies succumbed to an overwhelming weariness. The exhaustion that had already settled upon us intensified, weighing down our eyelids and sapping the last remnants of our strength. A heaviness enveloped us, pulling us into the clutches of a deep slumber that was both peaceful and unnerving.

Through half-closed eyes, I strained to see blurred silhouettes making their way inside the hut. Their faces remained obscured behind sturdy helmets. Their voices were muffled and all I could do was watch as they tied our hands together. Carrying our unconscious bodies between them, they marched off deeper into the forest.