A cold chill swept through the group, and panic spread like wildfire. The commander's face tightened, a deep worry settling heavily in his chest.
"What do we do, Commander?" one soldier asked. "Should we search for him?"
The commander took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. This was no time for panic.
He shook his head firmly.
"We stick to the plan," he said. "We follow the instructions. We head to the temple. I'm confident we'll find Lord Reynold there. We cannot stray from the path."
While the group steadied themselves, a different scene unfolded deep within the forest.
Reynold stood alone, surrounded by the thick, oppressive greenery. His gaze swept across the forest, noting the towering trees that seemed to close in on him. He had expected this.
"Hmph... it seems it was inevitable that I'd be separated," Reynold muttered to himself.
