At five hundred meters away from the border, birds soared high in the sky, flapping their wings as if fleeing from chaos.
Beneath them, men dressed in full combat suits walked slowly, their breathing coming in ragged bursts.
"Darian, are you sure it took this path?" Zoe's voice cut through the cold.
"Yeah… I chased it until it vanished at that spot." Darian pointed a finger at the black-stoned mountain—Basalt Mountain.
Before Zoe could add another question, a howling sound exploded from all sides.
"Guys, be ready." Darian stepped to their front, then drew his sword.
Ewan frowned slightly. "I shouldn't have come when you called."
"Do you think I care about you?" Darian gave an eerie laugh, then shook his head.
"This isn't the time to fight, foolish boys." Kira's voice cut in like a poisonous dagger. "You can head back home if you want."
She turned, gave Ewan a wink, then shifted her attention to the moving rocks.
