Marcus had finally gotten his hands on the legendary Spring of Life.
The crystal vial rested cool and heavy in his palm, faint threads of pale green light drifting within the liquid like living mist. He was just about to examine the holy water's attributes when Silas Vance suddenly turned toward him, his expression tightening as his gaze swept across the distant tree line.
"Listen,young man," Silas said sharply, urgency cutting through his usual calm tone. "The four Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits are closing in on this location. You need to take Alana and get back to the city immediately. Once you're inside the city limits, stay there for at least an hour. After that, they'll lose your scent and abandon the hunt."
Alana's face paled slightly. She stepped forward, worry written plainly across her features.
"But what about you, Grandfather?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound steady.
