A Slaves Punishment

Stepping onto the grass, Yur and his group scanned the surroundings.

"This place is so different from Zulmasharr," Velmira commented immediately, sensing the change in the very air—the essence was different, more... alive.

Yur took a deep breath of the unfamiliar air, his gaze roaming the forest he had entered—the very forest where he had met his first imp. He looked toward an opening and began to move in that direction. The rest of the group fell silent, attuned to the rare emotion in Yur's usually dull expression as he traced the pathway forward.

Back then, he had escaped with damaged legs; yet, it was the first time he had truly felt alive, truly free—despite the circumstances, he had managed to protect himself and escape. Soon enough, he came upon an opening, and a familiar sight met his eyes: a large boulder bordered by jagged spikes.

Yet what he saw surprised him even more.