"There's no one left," one of the men said, walking toward where Azrael and Vespera stood.
Another man reappeared, sharing the same update. The news was grim—no survivors found in the village. Soon, all the men arrived, all giving the same somber report.
Vespera's gaze shifted around the now ghost village, and with a stern expression on her face, she spoke up, "We should get going. There's nothing more for us here."
The group nodded in agreement and began to move forward. Azrael, however, paused, his gaze scanning the surroundings. Something felt off and awfully quiet. He turned to Vespera, concern in his eyes, and asked, "Where is Elian?"
Vespera's eyes widened, and she snapped her head around, scanning the village searching for any sign of the old man in a teenager's body. "He was supposed to report back by now," Vespera stated, her voice laced with worry.
