The party halted just beyond a thicket, the smell of campfire smoke faint but distinct. Goblins were close—close enough that even the wind felt heavier.
Chester leaned against a tree, smirking. "Looks like we found our little pests. Easy work. Let's go in, cut them down, and get home before lunch."
Ilyanna's voice was quiet but edged. "If you rush in, you'll be skewered before you see the second one. Goblins don't build outposts without traps."
Chester chuckled, clearly more interested in the sound of his own voice than her warning. "Cute. You read that in a book?"
Before James could speak, Dannevie interjected smoothly. "Actually, she's right. Goblins favor pitfall traps along the perimeter and often station sentries high in the trees. The best approach is slow and deliberate."
Argo snorted. "Slow and deliberate's just another way to say boring."
James adjusted his grip on his staff. "And rushing in is just another way to say dead. We don't know their numbers. We should scout first."
Chester's gaze slid to him with exaggerated mockery. "And the scholar speaks. Listen, you're both rookies, so here's some advice—don't tell veterans how to do their job."
Ilyanna's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. She simply stepped away from the group and began checking her quiver.
The air grew thick, not just with the scent of goblin smoke but with unspoken friction. Dannevie kept trying to smooth things over, asking about spell ranges and attack patterns, but even his easy smile couldn't hide the subtle tension running between the members of Silver Phantom and Black Claw.
Somewhere above, a crow called—a sound far too close to the outpost for comfort.
"We camp here," Ilyanna said suddenly, her tone decisive. "One hour to observe, mark the traps, and count their sentries. Then we move."
Chester raised an eyebrow, clearly itching to argue, but something in her gaze made him look away.
James glanced at the smoke again, the flickers of movement between the trees. The goblins weren't going anywhere just yet… but when they moved, the forest would no longer be silent.