Two weeks had passed since the dinner with Fredrinn's team.
The search for Julian had finally begun.
To start, they had decided to explore what should have been the easiest ruin for their collective skills.
It promised to be both an easy victory and a valuable experience.
The journey had been largely uneventful.
Cassian, Fredrinn, and Rose were now making their way through the steep, rugged mountainous terrain of a strategically important county near the heart of the empire.
The wind, sharp as a blade, lashed at their faces, carrying the distinct, resinous scent of pine trees.
The gravel path crunched under their feet, each step echoing with a dull thud through the valley.
This seemingly aimless trek, which had been going on for hours, had worn Rose's patience to a thread.
The young woman stopped abruptly, turning around with a weary sigh.
Her gaze was sharp enough to pierce through Cassian, the group's mysterious guide.
