We crept through the forest, closer and closer to the camp. The closer we got, the less things moved within the forest, until it felt like a void. There weren't even any bugs or birds calling out anymore. Using my aura sensing, everything felt muted as well, like fog covered the landscape.

Using the rune on Havi's leg twice, I pinpointed exactly where the camp was.

A low wall surrounded the three buildings sitting on wide open ground between the trees and the rocky beach. The Forger was somewhere inside the northern building. The wall blocked us from seeing inside the grounds, but it didn't block the slaves carrying bodies out and tossing them in a massive grave next to the gate.

My body shook at the sight, and I tried to look anywhere but there.

Kavi grew taunt beside me, while Lenna glanced up at the trees.

Havi and Manee were watching the camp without a problem. Though, Manee felt strange. The feeling rolling off her aura was less like anger and more like panic. It made it hard to focus on keeping my breathing steady and my hands from shaking.

"Any sign of the water tribe?" I asked.

Lenna shook her head, along with Havi.

The sun traveled closer and closer to the horizon. We didn't have long before dusk.

I couldn't help but wonder where the water tribe was. It didn't appear that we'd missed the battle, and this had to be the location.

Lenna stared out over the water with a frown. "They should be here at any time," she whispered to me.

I nodded, but frowned. "Sile wouldn't lead us wrong."

"They need to remove this if they want to clear the forest out before heading north," added Kabi. "Otherwise, reinforcements will keep entering the forest from here."

He pointed to a trail from the north gate. "That meets the road the Forgers built that goes between the outpost to the south and the Rustlands to the far north. Without the outpost or this camp, they don't have any safe area except for the Rustlands."

"So, they'll be here, we're just early," I added.

After another couple of minutes, the shadows stretching between the buildings and the wide open space before the forest edge were complete.

I moved closer to Havi and motioned to his leg. He pulled up his pant leg, and I traced the bond. It pointed to the camp.

"I can't stay here," said Havi, bouncing his foot. "I'll lead them right to us. No matter what, I need to destroy this bond as soon as possible."

Manee grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight.

"We'll circle around to the northern side and head for that entrance," he said before looking at his son. "Kabi, you chose a good warrior to follow. May you dance like the wind."

Manee nodded at his words in agreement.

Kabi bowed his head. "May your blades kiss sweetly."

Massive movement within the wall caused all of us to freeze. Two Forgers led a large group of Harvesters out of the courtyard and in rows down the path stretching to the road. No one spoke a word until they all were out of sight.

I moved closer to Havi and motioned to his leg. He pulled up his pant leg, and I traced the bond. It no longer pointed to the camp, and now pointed in the direction that the Forgers and Harvesters had gone.

"Well, one of those two Forgers is the one connected to you."

Manee smiled a wicked smile, and Havi frowned. "We will take care of them."

"Good hunting," I whispered after the two.

Then the two vanished into the underbrush, before rapidly fading off my senses.

"So, they are the distraction until the bigger distraction shows up," I said, trying to figure out a different entrance to use. Unfortunately, there was only one in front of me. The shadows all around it from the wall and the tall building made it the perfect choice for my skills, even if it was a little obvious. Hopefully they weren't expecting me yet.

With the massive force of Harvesters gone, heading inside became a lot safer for me and the others. Especially for a rescue mission.

"I need to go in there and free the slaves." Or at least, remove as much crystal as I could. If they were running out of the stuff, that was even better.

"I will cover the retreat," said Lenna, holding her bow. Her information popped up as I mentally asked.

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[Lenna de La Dengu, Pathfinder, Arcane Arrow, Level 65, Friend.]

She pointed up in the trees over us before backtracking around the other side of the trunk and jumping upward.

My gaze landed on Kabi, who was still peering in the direction his parents had gone.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, touching his shoulder.

He shivered. "I don't know if I'll see them again."

"You will, if not in person then in spirit," I added. "Just think how Cekta will respond when you tell him you saw them."

"Never did I think I'd see them again; we were lucky." He smiled a little and nodded before turning to look at me. "I can't sneak like you can, but I can help anyone you get out to flee."

"Then I'll go in and find the captured. I'll direct them out this way and toward you guys."

Here I was, yet again going into a battle that I probably shouldn't. Not against beings that didn't pay attention to system rules.

I used Insight on Kabi to see what level he was.

[Kabi, Swordwarrior, Azurafolk - Forestdweller, Level 94, Friend.]

My level 73 didn't feel high enough for this confrontation, but still, I couldn't help myself. There were people inside who needed to be saved, and on the personal side, I wanted my damn spear back. I'd worked hard for that reward, and it was mine.

Maybe after this, Kabi and I could spar and I could see what level I actually stacked up against. Get a better feel for it, at least. I knew the matchup against the Harvesters were in my favor, since the crystals burned through the creatures' heavy armor easily and my speed stood higher than theirs. The Forgers were a different story. However, they didn't seem to work together, which was strange.

Stop stalling, I told myself.

Finally, I yanked on my stealth skill and crept ahead, sticking to the darkest part of the shadows from the building and the wall. This stretch of space wasn't that large, and as the sun crept toward the horizon on the other side of the building, the deep shadows made it easy to remain unseen.

Bit by bit, the mass grave came closer, and I ignored it completely. I blocked the sight and smell out of my head, focusing instead of the open gate. Two collared Azura folk stood inside the opening with swords on their belts. An additional person dragged something out of a gaping door to my right.

Buzzing came from that direction, the buzzing of additional crystals. That made my decision to ignore the other two buildings easier. I swallowed as I moved past the 'guards,' who didn't notice me at all. Beyond them to the left stood a large cage that reached the top of the wall. The massive number of Harvesters in the cage made my mouth water.

Tasty, tasty chicken.

Yet, most were under my level and appeared small, barely registering on my radar.

One of the Harvesters started making a loud noise, and the closest guard turned to face them. That gave me an opening with the other. Thankfully, I was close enough, and he leaned against the wall in the shadows. My fingers wrapped around the collar and yanked before he realized I was there.

He blinked several times and caught the metal part of his collar as it fell from his throat. Suddenly, he stared at the other guard, who faced the Harvester cage. Plus, the other slave had started on their way back to the opening in the wall.

His eyes met mine in fear, and I held a hand up to my lips. He nodded and didn't move, besides making the collar vanish.

I darted across the opening to the other guard who was yelling at the Harvesters to shut up. He lost his collar just as easily as the first. Yet, unfortunately, he didn't keep his mouth shut.

"What the…"

The last slave coming back from the grave glanced up just as the guard's collar hit the ground.

His mouth opened, but before he could say anything, the first one I'd freed clapped a hand over his mouth.

I darted in their direction and removed that collar as well.

The slave stopped struggling immediately, and I motioned to the trees for them to flee. All three took off without glancing back.

Shadows covered the entire courtyard, making it easy to get back on track and creep to the door. It sprang open, and this time a slave appeared dragging something heavy and walking backward out of the opening. They didn't notice the lack of guards, and instead kept going to the cage filled with Harvesters. The door closed once they were free of it.

I waited right next to the closed door until they tossed whatever it was into a box that then dumped it inside the cage.

They quickly rushed back to the doorway, keeping their eyes on the ground. That's when I realized this slave wasn't an Azura-folk.

[Glet-Bound, Forger, Level 51, Prey, Unknown.]

Yet, they were blue, though bits of orange swirled along their face. They also had the same four arms that Kabi had.

A crystal collar bound their neck. They stepped up close, and the door opened. That was when I struck, right as they stepped inside. I stepped close after them with my hand wrapping around the back of their neck. The crystal came free just as the door closed behind me.

He didn't speak, just twisted about, eyes growing wide. His hands went to his neck in panic, finding the collar broken. Yet, he didn't spot me. He was way to low level to break my stealth, even knowing I was there.

A rancid smell smacked me in the face, almost staggering me, but I resisted the urge to hurl.

"They are hunting you," he whispered in the darkness. "They just took off into the forest."

I didn't say anything, but watched him.

"There isn't anyone else to save here, not even me." He turned away from the door and faced the first cage on the right.

The only dim lighting in the room came from a few lights lining the upper walls, giving off a soft yellow color that didn't quite reach the floor. The cage to the left stood open, with nothing inside but a blood smear. The right-side cage, which Glet faced, had people inside who didn't even register on my radar.

They stood staring at the floor, eyes wide. No one moved, mumbled, or made any type of sound.

"That's what waits for me without my collar. But with it, I'd need to sound the alarm."

Chills raced up my spine while I stared at the people in the cage. The buzz of crystals came from the only opening ahead, past even more cages.

I resisted the urge to speak.

Glet continued, "There is only one Forger in this building, Dilom. Don't let him take you alive."

He turned and headed to the closed door before pausing, just as it opened. "If you get the chance, kill him, but you better hurry."

Then he walked out.

The door snapped shut behind him.

It took a few seconds for me to realize the door reminded me of a door from one of our drop ships. Metal covered the floor, along with a thick layer of dried grime, which I carefully stepped around to not leave any tracks.

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