Seirion moved forward slowly, alert and trying to determine whether the earlier sound had come from a human or an animal. The forest was quiet, too quiet to be ordinary.
He had walked only a few meters when something shifted in the distance.
A tall silhouette, broad-shouldered and elegant, walked among the trees. Its back turned to him. The moonlight filtering through the branches outlined reddish hair. Seirion felt a strange chill.
It was Korveth.
The figure moved with steady steps, as if it had been there with a purpose and was now leaving as if to avoid crossing paths with him.
"Wait!" Seirion called, taking several steps forward.
But the figure did not stop. It did not turn and did not respond.
Seirion quickened his pace, almost running over roots and branches, but no matter how fast he went, the distance never shortened. It was like chasing a reflection on water: it looked close, but was never really there.
Finally, Seirion stopped and exhaled in frustration.
