The march continued without pauses. The forest closed increasingly around them, trees grew closer together and their canopies formed a thick cover that barely let artificial light through. The golden tone that previously filtered through leaves gradually disappeared, replaced by a faint clarity diluting among denser shadows. The air became colder, and humidity stuck to skin with each step.
Hok Nerris didn't reduce pace.
Students advanced in silence, more attentive now to terrain than anything else. Roots protruded more frequently, ground became irregular and at some points mud gave slightly under weight. Each step demanded concentration.
Bīng Xuě kept moving with ease, though he no longer talked as much. His breathing remained stable, but his gaze swept the environment with more interest, as if beginning to recognize the real value of what they were doing.
