Celeste rushed through the forest, her breath uneven.
The other captives followed her lead, the noise generated from their collective passing akin to a raucous rustle. Yet, the procession of warriors did not slow down - could not slow down.
Their very lives depended on it, after all.
As she sensed a thick, hair-raising presence slowly converge towards their direction, a cold shiver crawled down Celeste's spine. From the fluctuations of the miasma alone, it was as if the entire Defiled population inside Nature's Grove had gathered to chase them.
Instinctively, Celeste channeled more of her mana. Almost imperceptibly, her speed increased.
On reflex, the younger healer's mind swept through her Dimensional Bracelet, ensuring the wooden trunk which Oakia had entrusted her with remained where it was, safely stored inside. Inhaling deeply, the Chosen of the Divine Sovereign spared the hunters and Guild members a glance, discovering a few beginning to lag behind.
