The prison cart carrying the Rusted Key thief traveled slowly along the damp path by the shore of Gray Mist Lake, its wheels churning through the mud with a dull rumble.
Alice sat in the driver's seat, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the silver longsword pendant on her chest, seemingly lost in thought.
Her adjutant, Karen, sat beside her. He tightened his collar and grumbled, "What a god-forsaken place. So much fog in the middle of summer, and the dampness is so thick it chills you to the bone."
"I just hope a wild boar or something doesn't suddenly jump out of these woods..."
"The Swamp Forest is always like this. Heavy fog is the norm..."
Alice replied casually, but before she could finish, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she pulled the reins tight.
"Whoa—!"
The carriage jerked to a halt, and the horses pulling it snorted uneasily.
