Valerian Cross 12    

Traveling back to the forest where Evelyn had been staying required at least a full day's journey.

They set out early in the morning to avoid the dangers of the night, aiming to reach her hut by evening and rest before heading back to CROSS HQ the next day.

Since it was a short trip, they traveled in small numbers. The organization's members were already spread thin, each busy with their own missions. Humans who fought creatures of the night were rare, and those who actually knew how to fight them were even rarer.

Most were driven by personal vendettas—loved ones lost, lives ruined. The average person, understandably, preferred to stay far away from such horrors, leaving the responsibility to specialized organizations and the church.

By the time they reached Evelyn's hut, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon, casting long shadows through the dense trees.