"Jairah," Auren muttered, his voice low and grim as he prepared for the worst.
With a practiced motion, he drew his Divine Rapier, the DR humming faintly with golden energy. His pupils shifted into sharp, hawk-like slits as he activated [Eagle Eyes], his long-range observation skill. Unlike his shorter-range [Tiger Eyes], this one allowed him to see through trees and across great distances—clarity enhanced by mana detection, and even faint ripples of magical movement could not escape it.
And true enough, barely a kilometer away, two figures stirred the forest.
One of them rode a majestic, towering stag, its antlers glowing with ceremonial runes. The creature bounded effortlessly over roots and shrubs, a phantom of grace and power. Atop it sat Kardel, the ruthless leader of the Sylvanthir Tribe.
Auren's gaze sharpened. The stag's hooves never made a sound—clearly enchanted—and the runes painted across its fur pulsed with an unnatural rhythm. Kardel wasn't just passing through.
