After passing through a dense forest, I finally came across an open plain. There, a tall wooden wall stood imposing, reinforced with mechanical debris embedded in its surface as if these remnants were used to strengthen its defenses.
At the gate stood several sentries clad in light armor, each holding a spear. Their armor was evidently pieced together from metallic components of mechanical beasts, with faint blue light flickering on their weapons.
"Stop right there!" one of the sentries called out, pointing his spear at me. "Identify yourself!"
"I'm just a wanderer," I said, raising my hands in a gesture of surrender to appear harmless. "I just came out of the forest depths. Is this the settlement?"
"The glow on you..." Another sentry frowned, his eyes locking onto the glowing sigils on my ring. "Is that the power of the Rift?"
I instinctively clenched my fist, trying to hide the glowing runes on the ring. "This? It's just an ornament."
