The gentle rustling of leaves filled the air as Luke and Shesha treaded along the outskirts of Hematheas. The forest surrounding the city was alive with subtle activity—a bird flitting between branches, the distant scurrying of a small creature in the underbrush, and the occasional burst of sunlight streaming through the dense canopy.
Luke's eyes scanned the terrain with practised ease, though his thoughts were far from focused. His flamethrower mechanism hung by his side, its polished surface gleaming faintly in the soft light. Shesha walked beside him, her expression unreadable as always, her steps deliberate and measured.
For a while, they'd moved in companionable silence, but Luke's mind churned with an unease he couldn't quite shake. Were they genuinely looking for clues, or was this just a convenient way to keep him occupied—and away from something?
