Ten long minutes passed as Rees lay on the cold ground, staring blankly at the sky with his body completely immobile.
Then—
Something stirred.
"…I can move," Rees muttered in disbelief.
Mana slowly returned to his bones. He clenched his bony fingers, then forced himself upright.
"Sir Leon…" His voice trembled. "I have to find Sir Leon."
His gaze dropped to the ground.
Large, deep footprints were carved into the earth.
"The tracks of that Rexian Bear."
Without wasting another second, Rees followed them.
After barely three minutes of hurried walking, the air grew thick with a metallic stench.
A trail of blood stretched ahead, leading straight into a massive cave carved into the rock.
It was as if Leon was struggling to run out of the cave and the bear dragged him back inside.
"Oh no…" Rees whispered.
He stepped inside the cave and started walking forward.
*Step-step-step-step-step*
