Oslo walked at the front because no one else wanted to.
The forest was quiet in a way that made his skin crawl. No birds. No insects. Just the sound of boots on dirt and the low scrape of branches as they pushed through.
"Keep moving," Dorian said. "You slow down again, I'll kick you forward myself."
Oslo swallowed. "Yes."
He tightened his grip on the short blade in his hand. It was cheap, worn, and mostly useless, but holding it made him feel slightly less helpless.
Behind him, the real cultivators moved easily.
Dorian walked at the center, relaxed, confident. Lyra stayed beside him, her posture straight, eyes scanning the surroundings.
Mid-level cultivators.
People who actually mattered.
Behind them were Camilla and Rhea.
Camilla's face looked pale, her lips pressed into a thin line. Rhea looked worse—dark shadows under her eyes, her steps careful, conserving strength.
They weren't fighters. Everyone knew it.
Camilla leaned closer to Oslo and spoke quietly. "How far now?"
"Not far," he said. "I think… a few minutes."
"I *think*?" Dorian repeated. "You dragged us all the way out here on a guess?"
Oslo's shoulders tensed. "I—I'm sure about the place. I saw something there."
"Something," Dorian said with a laugh. "That's your great discovery?"
Lyra glanced back at Oslo. "Describe it again."
Oslo hesitated. "I didn't get close. It was big. Bigger than any beast I've seen. White… or maybe gray. One wing looked wrong. Like it was hanging."
Rhea frowned. "A flying beast with damaged wings?"
"Or just your imagination," Dorian said. "You weaklings see shadows and start dreaming of treasures."
Oslo's face burned, but he didn't respond.
Camilla clenched her fists. "He's not lying. He was scared when he came back."
Dorian turned slightly, his aura leaking out just enough to make the air heavy.
"You defending him now?" he asked. "If there's nothing here, remember this trip was your idea too."
Camilla lowered her head immediately. "I'm sorry."
Lyra spoke again, calm. "If what he saw matches the signs, it *could* be a demonic Pegasus."
Dorian snorted. "Legendary beasts don't just sit around injured waiting for trash to find them."
"Still," Lyra said, "a wounded beast is always worth checking."
"Or selling the information," Rhea muttered.
Dorian grinned. "See? At least someone's thinking."
They moved deeper.
The forest began to change. Trees thinned. The ground sloped downward. The air grew heavier, pressing against Oslo's chest with every step.
His heart started pounding.
"Here," he said suddenly, stopping. "This is it."
The others halted.
Ahead, the trees opened into a rocky clearing. A jagged cliff face rose up, cracked and blackened as if something massive had slammed into it.
At the base was a wide, dark opening.
A cave.
No tracks leading out.
No sounds coming from within.
Just silence.
Lyra's eyes sharpened. "This matches."
Dorian stepped forward, smiling slowly.
"I guess you're not completely useless after all."