[EMERALD VALLEY]
The first two days of travel had been surprisingly peaceful.
Alex wasn't complaining. After Fallen Citadel, nearly dying, and watching Seraph turn against them, a quiet road was exactly what they needed. They followed Viktor's map north, kept their hoods up whenever they passed another traveler, and camped outside the main roads at night.
Their only encounter came on the afternoon of the second day. Five bandits stepped out from behind a rocky outcropping, each between Levels 28 and 32. They looked at the group—three humans and a small skeleton—and saw easy prey.
They had misjudged.
Raven raised her marked hand. Ten skeletons climbed out of the ground before the bandits could reach for their weapons. Emily followed with [Holy Bind], locking the first two men in place with bands of pale light. Alex didn't draw his knife. He simply pointed at Grim.
"You want to fight him?"
