As they continued on, the weight of the forest's eerie silence pressed down on them, filling the gaps in their conversations with a growing sense of unease. Yet they pushed forward, their instincts sharp and their senses on high alert.
Then, just as the tension seemed to reach its peak, a distant sound broke the oppressive quiet: the unmistakable clashing of metal upon metal. It was faint at first, but it grew steadily louder, like the slow build of a distant storm. The distant echoes of battle—shouts, the clash of swords, and the ringing of shields—carried through the air, cutting through the unnatural stillness of the forest.
Orion's ears perked up. "That's fighting... far off, but it's definitely a battle."
Aisa's eyes narrowed. "It's coming from the direction of the direction the troll's headed. It sounds like a full-on war."
