Ian concealed his aura and stepped into the fog-shrouded Glowing Forest.
The light within the woods was indeed dimmer than outside. The air was damp, and the ambient Magic Concentration was noticeably higher than in Silver Stream Town, though still not as high as the Furnace encampment, let alone the core region of the Shadow Moon Tower.
He followed the faint tracks of a trodden path, venturing deeper into the forest.
After walking for about half an hour, his Eye of Vigilance detected energy fluctuations and faint human voices ahead.
He slowed his pace and adjusted his expression, making himself look more like a travel-worn wandering Apprentice than an intruder.
The fog ahead thinned slightly, revealing a small clearing in the woods.
A few dozen crude wooden huts and tents were erected at the edge of the clearing. A bonfire burned in the center, around which sat a dozen or so men and women of various ages and attire.
