Chapter 36

The cold wind bit into my fingers as I tightly gripped the reins. My knuckles were probably white by this point. A single torch illuminated the area, and although the lighting was minimal, it somehow provided a bit of reassurance. It took us a while to fully adapt to the darkness that engulfed the forest. I wanted to question why it was so dark in there, especially since we were tasked with retrieving these three essential h*rbs. I found it hard to fathom how it would be possible, but instead of voicing my bewilderment, I chose to remain silent, thinking that perhaps I should ask when we were safely outside, hopefully still alive.

Beside me, I could see Teresa appearing as calm as ever, and it was the first time I had seen her act this way. My mind wandered, and then I realized that it was the cold that had triggered her behavior. She must have remembered and missed her old home, the Western Kingdom. I felt a pang of guilt for involving her in my troubles, but as I had mention