During the final preparations, Theresa suggested using an illusion to hide everyone while the group moved, but the Hound disagreed:
"You living people stand out on the wasteland like suns. Illusions cannot hide the sense that you do not belong in this world. Rather than using illusions, secret arts like Breath of Wind to speed up your movement would be more effective."
At least Shade's Dark Moon Grace had restored some spirit to the Witches. The thaumaturgy was far more effective in his hands than in Sister Belen's; otherwise, the Sister would have used it long ago.
The fog was even thicker than when Theresa and the Sister had brought Shade back. In the silent wasteland, only the group's footsteps echoed through the mist. Since they did not want to attract too many Corpse Ghouls, the old battered lantern in the Sister's hand still provided their only light, and even its flame now seemed ready to go out.
Everyone was prepared for battle. Their first fight began four minutes after they left the cabin. A vast rustling sound came from the depths of the darkness, followed by red-eyed Crow flocks cawing as they flew in from afar and gathered in the sky into something nearly resembling a dark cloud.
The only way these Crow corpses could attack was by spitting black light with corrosive power toward the ground. A single one could be dealt with even by a Mid-Ring Arcanist, but such a large flock was indeed troublesome.
So Shade at the rear of the group and Miss Violet at the front raised shields to protect everyone, while Sister Belen and Theresa attacked the flock overhead together.
The highly professional Miss Liard actually realized what they were faster than even the Hound:
"The first time I robbed—no, I mean entered