Morning arrived, casting a dim glow over the fading Forest of Vitality. The group gathered around the spring, filling their hands and drinking deeply. The water was cool and refreshing, but they all knew this would be the st time they tasted it.

  Diego stood nearby, arms crossed. "Drink as much as you can. Once we leave, there’s no coming back."

  Rain cupped the water in his hands, taking slow sips. He could already feel the vitality within it seeping into his body, soothing his lingering exhaustion from yesterday’s training. Around him, the others did the same, their expressions a mix of gratitude and quiet resignation.

  Emily sighed, wiping her mouth. "I’m really gonna miss this pce."

  Rain stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, well, nothing good sts forever."

  The once-lush blue trees had already begun to dull, their glow fading as the magic sustaining the forest slowly unraveled. Soon, the Forsakened Vale would recim this sanctuary, leaving only the dangers that lurked beyond.

  Diego gave a firm nod. "Alright. Time to move out."

  With that, they gathered their things and stepped beyond the boundary of the fading forest, heading back into the unknown.

  With each step they took, the once-vibrant blue trees gradually faded to a muted green. The ethereal glow that had bathed the forest in an otherworldly light dimmed, making the ndscape feel more familiar yet far less comforting.

  Rain gnced around, watching as the st remnants of the Forest of Vitality withered before his eyes. It was strange—just yesterday, this pce had felt almost sacred, a brief haven in the relentless dangers of the Forsakened Vale. Now, it was being swallowed by reality, returning to what it once was.

  Emily ran her fingers along the bark of a nearby tree, noting the shift in texture. "It’s like it was never here," she murmured.

  Diego kept his pace steady. "That’s because it never truly was. It was temporary—a borrowed moment of peace."

  A man exhaled sharply. "And now we’re back to the nightmare."

  No one had the energy to argue. The magic had faded. The Forsakened Vale had returned. And so had the dangers that came with it.

  They treaded through the forest, their steps cautious, their senses sharp. The weight of reality had settled back onto their shoulders, and the tension in the air was palpable. Some moved with the same wariness as before, while others—perhaps shaken by the loss of their temporary haven—were even more paranoid than ever.

  The distant rustling of leaves or the creaking of branches made some flinch, their hands instinctively hovering near their weapons. The Forsakened Vale was alive, always watching, always waiting.

  Rain kept his gaze forward, but he could feel the unease spreading through the group.

  After a few hours of trekking through the Vale, the group's initial alertness dulled into quiet exhaustion. The eerie silence of the forest stretched on, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves or the distant call of unseen creatures.

  Then, someone in the group muttered, “Wait… look at that.”

  Scattered across the ground were remnants of an old camp—tattered bedrolls, abandoned weapons, and the charred remains of a fire long extinguished. The sight made everyone stop.

  Rain stepped forward, scanning the area. The arrangement of the supplies suggested a hasty retreat—some bedrolls were still spread out, others half-rolled as if abandoned mid-pack. There was no sign of bodies, but deep cw marks lined the trees, some still faintly scorched from what seemed like essence-fueled attacks.

  Rain’s gaze lingered on the deep cw marks etched into the trees. Something about them felt… off. He furrowed his brow before speaking.

  “Diego,” Rain called out. “Shouldn’t these marks have faded by now?"

  Diego examined the damaged trees and said, "This camp was likely set up a day or two ago. While the trees in the Forsakened Vale do regenerate, they heal much slower than those in special forests like the Forest of Vitality."

  Diego exhaled through his nose and stood up. “Let’s move. We can’t stay in one pce for too long.”

  No one argued. As they left the camp behind, the air felt heavier, as if the forest itself had been waiting for them to see what had come before.

  Rain looked at the marks on the trees, his brow furrowing. "If this camp was recent… does that mean some people survived?"

  Diego remained silent for a moment before exhaling. "It's possible," he admitted. "But whether they're still alive now is another question entirely."

  Diego instructed, "Let's keep moving. Stay alert for any signs of survivors, but don't break formation."

  The group nodded, their expressions tense but focused. They moved forward with renewed caution, eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of life. The forest, however, remained eerily silent, the only sounds being their own footsteps and the rustling of leaves in the faint breeze.

  As they moved deeper into the forest, a few hours passed in tense silence. The group remained on high alert, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. Rain, walking near the front, suddenly noticed something off in the dirt—a faint imprint, barely visible against the uneven ground.

  “Wait,” Rain called out, stopping in his tracks. He crouched down, running his fingers over the disturbed earth. “These look like footprints… and they’re not that old.”

  Diego stepped forward, observing the faint tracks. The prints were uneven, as if whoever left them had been limping. Some were smeared, suggesting exhaustion or injury.

  Emily frowned, gncing around. “That means someone survived. But where are they now?”

  Grayson, standing nearby, exhaled sharply. “Could’ve been hours ago, maybe even less.” He eyed the shadows between the trees. “If they’re still alive, they might be close.”

  Diego straightened, his expression unreadable. “Everyone, stay sharp. Keep an eye out."

  With that, the group pressed forward, following the faint signs of life, their unease growing with every step.

  As they pressed deeper into the forest, the eerie silence was interrupted by a faint, ragged breath. Rain’s sharp ears caught it first, his steps slowing as he scanned the surroundings. The others must have sensed it too because weapons were subtly gripped tighter, and gazes sharpened.

  Rain's eyes narrowed as he spotted two figures resting against the massive roots of a tree. One sat slumped forward, his breathing ragged and uneven, his stomach was torn open by a cw mark, while the other y completely still, motionless in the dim light.

  His stomach tightened. "Over there!" he called out, quickening his pace toward them.

  As the group approached, the air grew heavier with the scent of sweat and dried blood. The seated man barely reacted, his head lifting slightly at the sound of their footsteps. The other…

  Rain’s breath hitched. There was no rise and fall of his chest.

  The old man studied the two figures before his weary eyes widened in recognition. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "They're from Bryan's group," he muttered.

  Diego stepped forward, his expression firm but controlled as he crouched beside the injured man. "Can you hear me?" he asked.

  The man weakly lifted his head, his face pale and streaked with grime. He blinked a few times before focusing on Diego.

  "Do you know where Bryan is?" Diego pressed, his voice calm but urgent.

  The injured man’s voice was weak, barely above a whisper. "Yes... Separated one day ago..."

  The man struggled to keep his head up, his breath ragged. "Forsakened... Harrowstalkers… attacked at night. We ran… got split." His gaze flickered toward the lifeless body beside him, grief fshing in his dull eyes. "Camped… thought we were safe…"

  Diego exhaled through his nose, absorbing the information. "So Bryan is still out there."

  Emily stepped forward, pulling out a bottle of water, but before she could offer it, Diego raised a hand to stop her.

  "No." Diego said firmly, his gaze locked onto the injured man.

  Emily frowned but didn’t argue, gncing at the man with concern. The injured man’s breath was shaky, his lips dry and cracked. He looked like he was barely holding on.

  Rain, watching from the side, shifted uncomfortably. "Diego, he’s not going to st long like this."

  Diego remained silent for a moment before addressing the man again. "Where did you st see Bryan?"

  The injured man weakly muttered, "Heading south... Trying to leave... the forest."

  Diego sighed, "I see..." his were eyes clouded with a somber weight as he slowly unsheathed his bde.

  The group tensed.

  Emily stepped forward, her voice uncertain. "Diego… what are you—"

  "We can’t save him," Diego murmured, his tone hollow.

  Without hesitation, he raised his sword and brought it down in a swift arc, slicing through the man's neck. It was quick—merciful.

  Rain turned his gaze away. He understood why Diego had done it, but that didn’t make it any easier to watch.

  The group fell silent, the weight of Diego’s decision settling over them like a heavy shroud. The injured man hadn’t even flinched—whether from resignation or the sheer numbness of his wounds, no one could tell.

  Emily clenched her fists, her expression a mixture of frustration and sorrow. "There had to be another way..." she murmured, barely above a whisper.

  Diego exhaled, shaking his head. "There wasn’t," he said quietly. "If we left him, he would’ve died slowly. If we carried him, we’d all be put at risk." His grip on his sword tightened before he slid it back into its sheath.

  A heavy silence settled over the group, the weight of Diego’s action lingering in the air. No one spoke, their expressions grim.

  Then, Diego broke the silence.

  "We’ll keep moving south, just as we always have," he said, his voice steady but subdued. "It seems Bryan didn’t retreat back to the vilge."

  Diego moved forward, weaving through the group as he headed south. For a brief moment, no one else moved, the weight of what had just happened keeping them frozen in pce. But one by one, they followed, their steps heavy yet determined.

  Rain saw Emily staring at the man’s lifeless body, her expression clouded with guilt. It was clear the weight of it all pressed heavily on her.

  Rain said, "Emily, let's go..." His voice was still weak.

  Emily responded, her voice subdued, "I know." She followed the group, her steps slow and careful.

  Rain followed suit, his mind clouded with thoughts. The weight of what had just happened pressed heavily on him, lingering like a shadow he couldn’t shake.