The night in the forest is cold and long.
Under the expectant gaze of the villagers, the hastily assembled team held torches borrowed from the Mill Master and stepped into the forbidden area outside Pompeii Village, known locally as the "Black Forest."
The dense coniferous forest obscured the sky, and the pale moonlight was shattered into pieces, casting fragmented and eerie shadows over the thick snow.
Everything was unusually quiet except for the crunching of footsteps on the snow and the occasional crackling of the torches.
Finic and his companions were clearly undertaking such a dangerous task at night for the first time, and the brave young man already regretted that rash invitation.
"All day... that kid is definitely dead," Barrett whispered.
"Don't say that, maybe there's still hope?" Leo replied in a low voice.
"Whether there's hope or not, we have to try... After all, that's the client's only son." Finic suddenly fell silent for a moment.
The only son...
