The others were equally vigilant. Though they had walked quite a stretch of mountain road, none of them were pampered young masters or ladies. Such people would not have had the courage or strength to take part in an operation like this.
No one showed any sign of fatigue. Everyone kept watch over their surroundings.
A low rumble rolled through the sky. Dark clouds packed the heavens.
Kaidila, walking at the front, looked up at the sky.
"Looks like it's going to rain. We're almost at the scene, so stay alert," he said quietly over his shoulder. Then he murmured to the two Wizards beside him, "You two will have to keep watch later. I'll cast a spell to trace the culprit."
"Leave it to us. We have to make those two things you paid worth it somehow." The black-robed Wizard chuckled.
The white-robed Wizard merely nodded faintly without speaking, making his stance clear.
The party walked on for some distance before finally stopping before a large pit. It was half a meter deep, shaped like a bowl, and its inner walls were strangely smooth.
"Here!" Kaidila raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.
The other black-robed Wizard called out, "Spread out and stay alert. Don't let anyone touch Kaidila."
The apprentices silently nodded and dispersed with practiced coordination, forming a circle around the three Official Wizards.
Anglie stood slightly inside the ring, longbow in hand, with the Chip's detection fully activated. Yet from the corner of his eye, he watched Kaidila behind him.
Kaidila stood in the center of the pit with his staff raised high. Whirlwinds slowly emerged beneath his feet, growing stronger by the moment. They swept up grass scraps and leaves within several meters around him, quickly forming a small gray tornado that completely enveloped him.