The gray clouds hung low, as if the entire sky held its breath due to some ominous omen.
The smell of scorched earth mixed with a stench akin to corpses rotting for days, cutting through the senses like a knife in the wind.
Occasionally, a gust of wind brought a scent reminiscent of corroded metal mingled with rotten eggs, sticky like tar, nauseating.
The vegetation was entirely withered, even the usual bird calls in the forest were absent, a deathly silence shrouded the dense woods ahead.
Vic stood in front of the blockade line, backed by twenty Elite Knights clad in deep silver armor, assembled silently.
A stationed knight quickly approached, blocking the path, spoke with a serious tone: "Ahead is a restricted area, unauthorized entry is prohibited."
Vic was not annoyed, simply retrieved an iron token from within his cloak, engraved with the Sun Mark of the Red Tide Lord.
"The Lord sent me." His tone was calm.
