Corvell looked torn. He glanced at the terrifying silver trees, then back to his Princess, then at the armed Knights. But the weight of his duty anchored him. "Cori... we are the Hero's Party. We cannot flee before we have even seen the enemy."
"Enough of this cowardice," Aethelstan declared, raising his broadsword high. "We march on. Keep your eyes peeled and your weapons ready!"
A sudden, ear-piercing yell echoed from the bruised sky above them.
It was a sound so unnatural, so saturated with pure grief and malice, that it silenced the entire party instantly. The mist around their ankles began to swirl violently.
"What's that?" Steppard asked, his voice trembling.
A string of red system notifications materialized before all of their eyes.
⸢Threat Encountered: Night Banshees⸥
⸢Level: 40⸥
Stenya gasped, clutching her staff. "I can feel something strange in the air. The mana here is… It's an evil king of magic... And it's coming here fast!"
