Light.
Dazzling, pale, and carrying the damp chill peculiar to the aftermath of rain.
Two giant Worker Mantises pushed the last obstructing boulder aside together, sending it rumbling into the mountain ravine.
Fresh air poured into the tunnel, dispersing the earthy smell and the slightly stuffy atmosphere.
Veylin sat on his horse and raised a hand to shade his forehead.
His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, stung painfully in the morning light.
This was an abandoned mine on Highland Fort Back Mountain, tucked away in an extremely secluded spot surrounded by steep rock walls and dense shrubs.
Unless someone came right up to it, they would never discover the entrance concealed beneath the vines.
"We're out!"
"We survived..."
The knights behind him gave muffled cheers.
They had felt their way through the darkness for an entire day and night. The claustrophobic sensation of billions of tons of rock pressing down overhead was enough to drive the weak-willed mad.
Now that they had finally seen daylight again, even the mud covering the ground seemed welcoming.
Veylin rode out of the entrance.
The view opened up before him. In a clearing a dozen meters away, a group that had been waiting for some time immediately stirred. Most wore straw rain capes and looked like wild boars that had just returned from rolling in a mud pit.
At their head stood a figure as burly as a brown bear. At the sight of Veylin, his stubbled face creased into a broad grin, and he strode through the mud to meet him.
Smack.
A rough hand landed heavily on his shoulder, with enough force to nearly knock him off his horse.
"Ha! I knew you were too tough to die, lad!"
Along with that booming, cracked voice came a powerful blend of sheep musk,