Unbeknownst to the party, three knights in heavy armor emerged through Avaloria Frostpeak's gate.
The eldest among them, his face creased with age but a sly grin playing on his lips, spoke with authority, "Simple task. Retrieve the boy. Dispose of the rest."
The two middle-aged knights nodded, rearing for a fight after years of rotting as city guards. After all, who would be stupid enough to cause trouble before Alkemia Al-Nour's gates?
Thomas and his two acolytes came here as soon as they learned about Julius's expedition. The set-up was perfect. They would simply abduct the boy and disguise the death of the party as an accident caused by a beast stampede.
With that plan in mind, they quickly set off in the cave's direction, ready to enact their sinister plan.
*****
Simultaneously, as the dust dispersed, Adam quickly re-materialized his mage's hand to grab a talisman from Julius' pouch and stuck it on the bear's face.
