At dawn, Edmund gathered his men to devise a plan for exploring the island. Based on the signs of danger discovered the previous night, they decided to advance in small groups, ensuring constant vigilance and maintaining communication through prearranged signals.The dense forest concealed natural pathways between the towering trees, and the damp soil revealed tracks of animals and possibly unknown inhabitants. Voss's group moved north, following a winding river that cut through the island, while Edmund and Kieza led an expedition toward the central mountains, hoping to gain a broader view of the territory.Progress was slow, as roots and vines obstructed their path, and the stifling heat made the trek even more exhausting. Among the undergrowth, they discovered moss-covered stone ruins, evidence that the island had once been inhabited by an unknown civilization. Carved into the walls, they found symbols depicting humanoid figures surrounded by ominous sea creatures. Some engravings illustrated scenes of sacrifices to what appeared to be dark ocean deities. The unsettling feeling of being watched intensified as they pressed on.As they examined the carvings, one of the explorers let out a warning cry. A swift shadow moved between the trees, too fast to be identified. Tension mounted, and Edmund ordered his men to form a defensive circle, ready for a possible attack. Silence settled over them, broken only by the rustling wind through the leaves and the distant crash of waves. From within the jungle, footprints appeared and vanished in the damp soil, as if something walked without truly touching the ground.Voss and his group returned at midday with troubling news. They had found the remnants of an abandoned camp, bearing signs of struggle and arrows embedded in tree trunks. "If anyone was here, they either fled or were hunted," Voss said, his tone heavy with unease. In one of the collapsed huts, they discovered partially burned journals, with fragmented passages describing creatures emerging from the night's mist, dragging the unwary into the darkness. The persistent stench of decay hanging in the forest suggested that something unnatural ruled this land.The expedition pressed on for several more hours, and when they finally reached the summit of a rocky hill, they gained a clearer view of the island's vastness. To the west, they spotted rock formations that could be remnants of ancient natural fortresses. To the east, an immense swamp stretched out, cloaked in thick, eerie mist, from which indistinct sounds echoed—whispers and moans that sent shivers down their spines. To the south, a deserted beach revealed the wreckage of ships, some long consumed by time, with human bones scattered across the sand.Edmund took a deep breath. The island held secrets that needed to be uncovered but also dangers that could not be ignored. The air was heavy with mystery, and the remnants left by its former occupants suggested that unknown forces might be at play. The next steps had to be taken with caution—for the survival of his people might depend on what they discovered here.
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