Azire exhaled, his voice calm yet firm. "We should rest before searching for the riddle."
A chorus of nods followed, no one objecting. Azure extended a hand, weaving a protective barrier around them. The air shimmered as the magic settled, and one by one, exhaustion claimed them. The night passed in undisturbed silence, the weight of the past battle momentarily forgotten.
Morning arrived with the warmth of sunlight filtering through the trees. Hollie stretched, her stomach growling. "Man, I'm starving."
Belial rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. "We need to find some food."
Azire glanced around the makeshift campsite before making a decision. "Suna and I will handle it. The rest of you stay here."
Suna perked up, ready for the task, and together, they ventured into the woods. The air was crisp, the scent of damp earth filling their lungs. After a few minutes of walking, Suna spoke up. "I'm surprised there aren't more zombies. Considering how many attacked us when we first arrived, I expected more trouble."
Azire scoffed. "The Hollowed Stars probably summoned them all at once to ambush us." His expression darkened. "Still pissed about that."
Suna gave him a sympathetic glance before tilting her head. "Where exactly are we going to find animals?"
Azire shrugged, then closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he reopened them, his irises glowed with a fractured pattern, shards of broken glass shifting erratically as he scanned the area. A flicker of life pulsed in the distance, and his lips curled into a smirk. "Found something."
Without another word, he bolted forward, Suna laughing as she raced to keep up. They pushed past a dense thicket, only to skid to a halt. Towering before them was a monstrous bear, its fur dark and matted, its amber eyes locked onto them. A deep, guttural growl rumbled in its chest before it swiped a massive claw in their direction.
Azire reacted instantly, grabbing Suna and leaping to safety. The wind rushed past them as he landed, gently setting her down.
Suna, breathless, managed a quick, "Thanks."
Azire didn't respond. Instead, he extended a hand, and a glowing circle formed before him. A blade materialized within it, gleaming with an ominous sheen. He grasped the hilt, rolling his shoulders as he examined his new weapon. "I'll call this Umbral."
Without hesitation, he lunged forward. Suna, from a distance, stretched her hand outward. A magic circle appeared beneath her palm, crackling with electricity. Lightning shot forward, striking the bear and sending tremors through its massive form. The creature convulsed, paralyzed, giving Azire the perfect opening. He dashed in, his blade cutting through flesh with lethal precision. The battle ended in a single decisive strike, the beast collapsing in pieces.
Together, they hauled the fresh meat back to camp. Azire conjured a fire, its flames crackling to life, and the group worked together to prepare the meal. The scent of roasted meat filled the air, a well-earned feast within reach.
Then Hollie's brow furrowed. "Wait a second…" She lifted a piece of meat that stubbornly refused to cook, turning it over in her hands. "Something's written on this."
The others crowded around as she read aloud:
"How dare you eat my pet? That was very rude. You could at least bury him for me."
A heavy silence settled over the group.
Belial folded his arms. "So, we need to find a cemetery, right?"
Azire nodded, his expression unreadable. "No time to waste. Let's go