Linus shook his head, his shoulders slumping. "Even if he's still alive, we have no means of reaching him. That pit is steeped in Dark Magic, and entering it would only lead to more loss. I can't... I can't risk losing anyone else."
Maric, standing just behind Linus, tugged at the hem of the priest's robe, his small voice trembling with feigned emotion. "But, Father, what if he's waiting for us to save him?"
Linus turned to the boy, crouching to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with sorrow, and his voice was heavy with regret. "Maric, sometimes... sometimes we're faced with choices that break our hearts. I want to save him, truly, but the forest has claimed him now. All we can do is pray for his soul and protect the living."