Ethanel's shout was filled with distress, so much so that Gwen's mind slipped to process it.
She didn't understand what he had seen, but the warning alone was enough to make her react, and yet it came too late.
None of them had noticed it, as a massive shadow formed behind them without a sound and swept past in a single motion, leaving nothing behind where Gwen had been standing.
For a brief moment, Ethanel couldn't process what he was seeing, but as his gaze followed the movement, he finally understood.
A massive serpent, its body far too long to track, was already retreating into the forest.
His concentration shattered instantly, and the ice shards dissolved along with the spell as his mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened.
"Gwen!"
The shout tore from his throat as he poured mana into his body and launched himself forward at a reckless speed, abandoning everything else in that instant.
