บท 245: 245. Silent Misery (3)

The High Priest led the group, his expression grave as he guided us through the dense woods. The knights flanked our sides, their vigilance heightened, their swords drawn and ready. Every step we took felt like a deliberate choice, each one leading us deeper into the forest's ominous embrace.

The thing I had failed to mention earlier was that this dark matter, this unholy corruption, had already tainted the creatures of the forest, twisting them into something far darker than their natural forms. It was as if the land itself had been infected by this malignant force, and it was only a matter of time before its tendrils reached out to claim us as well.