The army halted before the forest. From a distance it looked like a solid wall of shadow, an endless sea of towering trees rising toward the heavens.
Only thin streaks of pale light slipped through the canopy. At the threshold, the ground sank softly underfoot, carpeted with moss that gave off the faint scent of damp earth and rotting wood.
Lina stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly in her hands.
"Inside…" she said, her voice steady, "You will face temptations. Do not stray. And follow my lead."
The soldiers understood her words, and they nodded in unison. Some tightened their grips on their weapons, while others cast uneasy glances toward the looming trees.
With Lina leading, they stepped into the forest. At once, the atmosphere shifted. The towering canopy swallowed the world, plunging them into a strange twilight.
It was not full darkness, yet the dim green light pressed down like a weight, enough to see but offering no comfort.
