"They're hiding something from us."
Caelen's voice came out low, roughened by the chill in the air as he walked, his boots crunching against splintered bark.
The mist hung thick around them, weaving through the broken forest like a living thing.
Punzo, walking just off to his side, turned his head slightly—an eyebrow arched, the faint glow of his flame-touched fingers briefly lighting the edge of Caelen's face. "What do you mean?"
"They're whispering," Caelen muttered, his tone sharp but quiet, eyes fixed ahead.
The group in behind—Kairo and his vice-captain—moved in tense formation, their shapes barely visible through the fog.
"They know something. I can feel it. I know that look in Kairo's eyes. He's keeping something from us."
Punzo frowned, brow creasing. "You think they're leading us on a goose chase? Like… Eli isn't actually wherever we're going?"
