Deep in the black forest, the tangled roots of ancient, twisted trees merge with moss-covered rocks, naturally forming a concealed area.
A simple concealed magic array is set up nearby; this is the temporary refuge for the remnants of the Hand of Death.
Krug, the robust Lizardman priest of the Hand of Death, carefully lays the unconscious girl flat on a simple cot made of straw and soft animal skins.
His arms, covered in dense dark green scales, have bulging muscles, yet his movements are exceptionally gentle, as if he were holding fragile glass.
The white long dress is now stained with dirt and several dried dark spots, and the bare feet exposed under the hem are unnaturally pale.
Even though possessing the virtue of 'spirituality' and being able to listen to divine will and borrow the powers of gods, the cost far exceeds what a mortal body can easily bear.
