Amiya stopped again, consulting the map. Her breathing came heavy from the constant running. Sweat beaded on her forehead despite the cool air. Her hands trembled slightly as she traced paths on the parchment.

Marie stood beside her, the Star Jewel's light creating a protective dome. Roots that approached the golden radiance parted automatically, giving Amiya space to work.

"The barricades are shifting," Amiya said, frustration clear in her voice. "The map shows one path, but the roots have moved. I need to-"

A root-Kungala emerged from the trees, it was half the size of a building and covered in bushes. Monster-like face with open mouth and hollow socket eyes as it raised both arms, preparing to smash down on their position.

Honor's eyes rotated, pupils spinning within those black pools.

Halt.

The Kungala froze mid-motion, caught by invisible shackles. It strained against the binding, wood creaking as it fought the effect.

"Found it!" Amiya pointed ahead and slightly right. "Through there!"

They moved as one, everyone quickly adjusting to the new directions. Behind them, the Kungala broke free of Halt's effect, roaring as it resumed its attack. But they were already gone, rushing through the opening Amiya had identified.

The pathway ahead narrowed with roots pressing closer from both sides. The Star Jewel's light parted them continuously, but the space was tight. They moved single file now, still protecting Amiya and Marie in the center of the line.

Root-constructs pursued, emerging from the forest in increasing numbers. The deeper they went, the more aggressive the defense became. But the group held together, each member covering the others, working in perfect coordination to keep moving forward.

The root-humanoids' voices came soft and gentle, threading through combat's chaos like lullabies sung to exhausted children.

"Rest now." One whispered, its faceless wooden head tilting as if expressing compassion. "You've fought so hard. Isn't it time to stop?"

Reinhard's blade cut through the speaker mid-sentence, Zenuken's jagged edge cleaving wood in half. The construct crumbled, but another took its place immediately, stepping over the remains with that same jerky coordination.

"We understand your pain." Another root-humanoid said softly. "The burden you carry is so heavy, so why not put it down? Let us take it from you."

Joseph's lance pierced through its chest, shattering the wooden torso. He didn't respond as wind surged around his lance before they exploded out, bursting the humanoid into pieces.

Marie held the Star Jewel high, golden light parting aggressive roots that reached for Amiya. Her light-gold eyes stayed focused while the voices washed over her like water against stone, present but ineffective.

"You don't have to keep going." A root-construct said from the left, its voice warm and caring. "The others have already given up, and for that, they're at peace now. Don't you want peace too?"

Casseo's black-scaled arm swept through it, sword trailing a shadowy aura. The construct splits vertically, halves falling in opposite directions. His crimson eyes behind the helm never wavered from scanning for the next threat.

"Think of what you've lost." Another whispered, positioning itself directly in Amiya's path. "Think of all the people who aren't here anymore. Don't you think it's time for you to join them? They're waiting for you, and they want you to stop hurting."

Amiya's boot connected with its wooden leg, sending the construct stumbling. Janus's crimson claws followed immediately, bursting through its back and expanding. The construct exploded into fragments. Amiya kept moving, a map clutched against her chest as she continued to lead everyone forward.

The voices continued multiplying while more root-humanoids emerged, not attacking directly but speaking. Soft tones.

"You're so tired. We can see how hard it's becoming for you all to move and how difficult it is to continue moving forward. Why keep suffering? Just stop, and rest, no one will judge you all."

Honor's banner swept through three constructs simultaneously, black aura causing them to weather and crumble. His nebulous cloak billowed as he moved, wings of concentrated twilight spreading wider.

"The forest isn't your enemy, we are trying to save you from yourselves. From the pain of continuing this impossible journey. Let it embrace you, so it can take away all that hurts."

Veryn's light beams punched through the speaker, boring holes that caused the construct to collapse. Her purple eyes with slitted pupils tracked movements, grimoire pages turning rapidly as she prepared the next spell.

Then the screaming began.

It was far away at first, but then it closed in, and it was terrible enough to make their head hurt. Footsteps followed, impossibly heavy with each step, shook the ground with unnatural force.

The Night Terrors emerged from the forest shadows.

They looked like humanoid-shaped birds, but they were wrong. Their forms seemed stitched together from darkness itself, wings spread from their backs, each feather a blade of concentrated black. Where faces should have been, there were beaks and empty eye sockets that somehow still conveyed sight.

Reinhard's gaze met one directly.

Pain exploded through his skull.

The Night Terror's face flashed in his mind, multiple images overlapping, each one slightly different but equally horrifying. His vision blurred while his head spun as his thoughts began to scatter.

The headache intensified, pressure building behind his eyes until it felt like his head might split.

"Give up." The root-humanoids whispered, their voices layered over the mental assault. "Stop fighting now, and then you will no longer have to feel this pain. You can finally rest. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

The crow-like Night Terrors approached slowly, their heavy footsteps counting down like executioners' drumbeats. They didn't attack, but instead, they spread their wings wide, and then they shrieked.

The sound pierced through their spiritual armor as if it didn't exist. Then it bypassed physical defenses entirely, stabbing directly into minds.

Reinhard's thoughts scattered again, unable to form coherent patterns. Marie stumbled, the Star Jewel's light flickering while Joseph's lance wavered mid-strike.

All of them held their head while gritting their teeth.

"Rest now." The voices continued, soft and caring even as the shrieking tore at their consciousness. "You've done enough, and no one will blame you for stopping. They'll understand and be grateful you're finally at peace."

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