Tracking two first-level crystallized wizards was no easy task. Duke and the kobold Reed kept as great a distance as possible, suppressing their auras and erasing their tracks along the way.
They proceeded with utmost caution, determined that even if they lost the trail, they must not expose themselves.
Fortunately, Bell and his companion seemed never to have considered that other wizards might be present here, so they were not particularly vigilant. Only the servant Reed occasionally probed the surroundings.
Aside from some shadow creatures native to the Everdark Corridor, there were no other threats along the way, and Bell and his companion gradually relaxed further.
Relying on Reed's keen sense of smell, Duke trailed far behind them the entire way.
Reed sniffed the air and reported through a mental message, "They've stopped."
They were now a full seven or eight kilometers away from Bell, yet Reed could still clearly detect their movements through scent.
In Reed's perception, Bell and his companion, who had been traveling continuously, suddenly stopped at one spot. Moreover, they remained there longer than they had at any previous stop.
That meant they were most likely not dealing with minor shadow creatures or trivial trouble. They might have reached their destination, or perhaps encountered some powerful, troublesome magical creature.
But the latter possibility was relatively unlikely. If they had encountered a powerful magical creature, there would not have been no sign of activity at all.
While having the kobold Reed continue monitoring the situation, Duke summoned a Dark Eye from the shadow space and quietly sent it toward Bell.
He carefully controlled the Dark Eye as it approached, keeping watch throughout for any detection measures Bell might have left within the shadow space.
As the Dark Eye advanced, the scene ahead gradually came into Duke's view,