The party was making its way through the Dark Snow Forest.
The leaves and branches were withered and yellow, the ground muddy, and a nauseating stench of decay hung in the air.
The knight at the head of the party led the way in silence. Most of the mages behind him wore silver masks, while their leader alone wore a mask edged in purple and gold.
"Excuse me... how much farther?" one of the female mages asked softly, her brow furrowed.
"Not far," the knight replied without looking back. "Another seven or eight minutes to the outpost. You'll see it once we're on the hillside. At this pace, we'll reach the site this afternoon."
The mages nodded and continued onward.
Near the back of the party, a young mage leaned toward his companion and complained under his breath, "Didn't that Viscount Calvin say he'd already 'dealt with' the Brood Hive?
"If he's dealt with it, what are we even here to investigate? What a waste of time... I was planning to go back and study the Hellfire Formation in seclusion."
His companion immediately glanced nervously toward the front and cautioned him in a whisper, "Keep your voice down... don't let the Archmages hear you."
"Hmph. So what if they do?" The young mage curled his lip.
Of course, he knew he only dared make these snide remarks because Lady Flora was leading the party. The famously kindly old woman was gentle and tolerant, and never lost her temper without cause.
Archmage Dilin was also accompanying them, the youngest high-ranking member of Magewood.
Young people naturally found it easier to look down on young figures of authority.
Had any of those stern, cold-faced Archmages been here-the silent ones who would freeze people solid on the spot-he would have shut his mouth