The journey through the land of lava was filled with a suffocating silence. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur and impending death. The group of ten moved behind Grace, maintaining a precise formation—not too far, yet close enough to feel the collective tension.
With Grace's help and her almost supernatural sense of the tectonic rhythm, they navigated the hellscape. Mitsuki, usually the first to charge, found herself impressed by the mage's cool-headed analysis. The lethal ground became a solvable puzzle under Grace's guidance.
After what seemed like an eternity, though it was only ten minutes, Grace finally stopped walking. She raised a hand, halting the column.
"Why are we stopping?" Nina asked, her voice trembling slightly as she stared at Grace's back.
