Chapter 103: The Witchs Forest (1)
The Baracant Mountains, often called the Spine of the Land, stretched from north to south across the continent's central-western region. The range, which formed the main body of the Zeden Mountains bordering the Zestrad territory, also served as the expansive natural boundary between the Lacania Empire and the Eustil Kingdom.
In the treacherous northern reaches of Baracant’s alpine expanse, a heavily armed force of twenty soldiers advanced along the ridgeline. These were the border guards stationed at Swindler Fortress, the critical gateway between the empire and the kingdom.
The captain of the guard peered down at the steep slopes flanking the ridge. He turned to a robed man in his thirties, who was surveying the area ahead.
"How’s the pursuit going, Felix?"
Felix, a priest of Saisha, Goddess of Wind and Sky, and a second-class inquisitor, shrugged. "No issues so far."
He was attuned to detecting the traces of darkness. The blatant trail laid before him was as clear as a signpost.
"It doesn’t even seem like they’re trying to hide their tracks."
"So the remnants of darkness is strong?"
"No, it’s faint. They’re just leaving it behind carelessly as they move."
"In other words, they’re weak and sloppy?"
"Exactly. Whoever it is, they’re certainly not a high-ranking necromancer."
Hearing this exchange, the guards following behind visibly relaxed.