Janus accepted the map from Brunhilde, his orange eyes scanning it with obvious familiarity. He looked up, surveying his companions. "Are you guys ready?"

Everyone nodded, Marie's light-gold eyes shone while Joseph smiled, with his thoughts likely on his sister somewhere in this wilderness.

Janus smiled and said. "Before we go, there are a few things we need to establish." He shifted, his black-blue coat rustling. "First, no need to worry about food since tons of fruits and vegetation grow in the forest that we can use."

Everyone nodded as it was something they already knew before coming here.

"We will constantly be checking the time. This is extremely important." He opened his bag and withdrew a miniature clock, its hands moving. "Right now it's only 4:00 PM. This means we have close to four hours of movement before we need to either find shelter or build one ourselves."

"Because of the Night Terrors?" Brunhilde's question was confirmation rather than inquiry.

Janus nodded, something dark flickering across his features. "They only come when night falls around 8:00 PM."

Marie leaned forward slightly. "I heard they can't enter houses and buildings. Is this true?"

"They can't enter any closed buildings," Janus confirmed. "But if there's an open window or door, they will be able to enter."

Joseph's brows furrowed. "What about a small hole?"

Janus shook his head firmly. "Fortunately, they can only enter through openings the size of windows. Even creating a shelter out of sticks can work, but I wouldn't recommend it." His expression grew haunted. "You'll be able to see the Night Terrors and hear their screeching more clearly that way."

Reinhard nodded as he recalled the terrifying history behind those terrors. "Anything else?"

"The roots around the forest are constantly shifting and moving." Janus held his chin and said. "We don't need to worry about them attacking us, but they might block paths we plan to use or our ways of retreating. Be careful and call out if this happens."

Reinhard nodded, filing the information away. "What about the Phantasm Beasts here?"

"They shouldn't be too much of an issue. They tend to keep to themselves and focus on eating." Janus paused, his orange eyes narrowing. "But there are some Phantasm Beasts with roots curled around or growing out of their bodies. These are the ones we need to be careful of. They will attack and try to drag you deep into the forest."

Silence descended for a moment.

Each of them processed the warnings, the dangers that awaited beyond the shed's walls.

Janus then sighed before smiling as he clenched his fist. "Alright... let's go."

He went to grab the lantern on the side before moving to the door and pulled it open. Sunlight flooded in with the warmth caressing them, and then they stepped outside.

Reinhard raised a hand to block the sunlight before seeing the forest pressing in from every direction around him. Trees rose like pillars, their trunks wider than the carriages they'd abandoned.

Roots burst from the earth in chaotic patterns, some as thick as his torso, creating natural barriers and pathways that seemed to shift even as he watched.

The canopy of branches and leaves above blocked most sunlight, leaving them in a twilight or dusk. The little light that was able to penetrate had created scattered beams that illuminated parts of the area.

The air smelled and tasted different with a slight chill as a breeze passed by.

Janus moved forward with the map held loosely in one hand while his orange eyes tracked their surroundings. His black-blue coat swayed with his movement, the blue highlights in his hair catching stray beams of light.

Marie followed close behind, while Joseph walked beside Reinhard, bright green eyes scanning constantly, and Brunhilde walked behind them.

They pushed deeper into the forest, with the vegetation around grabbing at their boots, such as tangled grasses, and low-growing plants reaching towards them.

The ground itself was uneven, forcing them to watch each step.

Roots could appear without warning, creating a tripping hazard or forcing a detour.

As they continued walking, a rustling erupted from somewhere to their left. Everyone paused as they glanced in that direction, but all they saw were roots and trees blocking the way.

"Can you check, Marie?" Reinhard asked after two seconds.

Marie nodded her head before she closed her eyes, and a look of concentration appeared. They were all staring at Marie while also listening out for any other sound.

After several seconds, Marie sighed and opened her eyes. "There are too many trees, roots, and branches. All I see when I connect with the sunlight is those, not whatever's making the noise or rustling."

Joseph nodded, his own expression distant as he listened to something the rest couldn't hear. Then he blinked in surprise. "The dark and wind elements told me it was nothing."

Marie raised a brow. "Really?"

Janus stared at the tree for a second before glancing back at them. "Then it's most likely nothing then."

"How can you tell?" Reinhard asked.

"It's because the thing that would have attacked us by now. None of the things that are hostile to us in this forest will be patient and wait. What most likely happened was the wind." Janus said with a hum.

"That does make sense, although I am surprised." Joseph says, leading Janus to chuckle.

"The forest is a tricky place. The source of noise and movement of grass, trees, and footsteps could be anything. It could range from wind to roots moving, to Phantasm Beasts, or even normal animals."

Marie blinked in surprise, turning to fully face him. "There are normal animals here?"

"They sometimes venture into the woods." Janus confirmed with a nod. "Ironically, they seem to survive longer than even the people living in this place."

Reinhard hummed thoughtfully, filing that information away. Before he could comment, Brunhilde's voice cut through.

"Don't worry about the sounds. I'll tell you if there's a threat or not."

Marie perked up, relief washing across her face. "Right! I forgot you can sense souls and lifeforce as a First Class Beast Master."

Reinhard's eyes widened in surprise before inwardly sighing at such a useful skill. It would make spying, infiltration, and keeping track of your opponent in combat. He still recalls his battle with Fenrir and how it kept abusing its ability to move through space.

Without Grand Scan and Vector Path, he would have been trashed around by its constantly moving and attacking.

Janus sighed in relief. "That would make things even easier."

Marie smiled, something mischievous entering her expression as she looked at Janus. "Oh? Is Janus not putting on a brave front anymore?"

Janus blushed before he coughed and looked away. "Well, as the leader, I should at least make you guys feel like everything will be fine... right?"

Joseph chuckled. "That's true, but you can relax with us."

Janus blinked in surprise before his smile returned, and then he turned around before he continued walking.

With the others following gradually, the forest began shifting around them. They passed massive logs lying across the ground, and then fallen trees covered in moss and fungi.

They moved through a clearing that had small mushrooms growing in clusters along the bark of a tree stump. Reinhard noted several that looked potentially edible, matching descriptions from survival guides he'd studied.

The path ahead narrowed into what Janus called a root-choked passage. The ground here looked ashen and dry, completely different from the moist earth they'd been walking on.

Branches of dead trees stretched across the surface like veins beneath skin, creating an intricate network of wood and root. Some were buried partially, others fully exposed, but overall, it looked unsettling, like walking across a massive web.

Reinhard stepped carefully, testing each footfall before committing his weight. The roots held firm beneath his boots, but they creaked occasionally, sending small sounds echoing through the forest.

Marie walked swiftly across and easily enough as she navigated the uneven surface.

Joseph seemed unbothered, the elements perhaps helping him maintain balance. Brunhilde moved calmly while barely disturbing anything she crossed.

They emerged from the root-choked path into slightly clearer ground

Branches and roots still surrounded them on all sides, creating natural walls that channeled their movement in specific directions.

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