The trees felt… off.
Not closer. Not thicker. Just heavier. Like someone had whispered something awful to them and they hadn't gotten over it.
Lindarion stepped over a half-buried root. His boots scraped against ice that hadn't been there five minutes ago. Or maybe it had. Hard to tell in this part of the woods. Everything kept pretending it belonged.
Ardan walked ahead of Kel now, slowing just enough that the guy didn't faceplant into a tree. He was still upright. Barely.
Ren kept exactly three paces behind.
Every time Lindarion glanced back, she looked the same. Hands in her coat pockets. Not watching them. Not really watching anything. Just moving like someone who had never needed to be careful in their life.
'She's either crazy or absurdly confident. Probably both.'
[Greater Core Recovery: 91%]
The familiar flicker stirred low in his chest. Still there. Still healing. It had settled into something warm now. Like a candle burning from the inside out.
Close. But not ready.
