Within ten minutes, he was mounted on a horse the riders had brought, the three of them departing from the villa as purple mist swirled around them in the darkness.
The corrupted forest seemed even more oppressive at night, with twisted trees and supernatural fog creating an atmosphere that perfectly matched Young Lord Bale's internal state.
His mind raced during the ride, cycling through the same questions repeatedly without finding satisfactory answers.
What did Kaiser want?
Why demand his presence?
What could the second condition possibly be that required a bound beast to deliver it?
The riders maintained a steady pace, their military training letting them navigate the corrupted landscape despite poor visibility.
Young Lord Bale followed mechanically, too consumed by anxiety to pay attention to the route or the surroundings.
