Chapter 92: Dead Lands
They walked through the forest, tall oak trees flanking them on all sides. Ferns and bushes dotted the open space between the trunks, elusive roots snaking just beneath those, making it very easy to trip.
Darius, Emerius, and, surprisingly, Liam, never had any issue avoiding the hazards, while the others fell more than once.
Whenever Annie or Red collapsed, the others rushed to their side. Darius would offer a hand with perfect posture, while Liam extended his arm like a gentleman from some old film. Red even got a small pat on the shoulder once from Emerius.
Charon had no such pleasantries, usually getting a laugh or a wayward comment about "being careful."
’Rotten bastards! It’s not my fault that there are so many roots! Why couldn’t we have taken a car?’
He grumbled to himself as he stood again, brushing off his knees. His robes were already collecting dirt and stray leaves, sticking to the fabric like a clingy girlfriend.
Ahead of him, Darius was explaining something about forest navigation to Annie, gesturing at the moss on one side of a tree and the inclination of the sunlight.
Charon didn’t need a compass to tell him that he didn’t care.
Just in front of him, Liam was humming. Not a tune. Not a song. Just... a sound. Low, meandering, like someone trying to pretend they weren’t bored.
Noticing Charon’s dour mood, the brute called back to him.
"You doing good back there?"
Charon snapped in reply.