Ovelia's POV
The sudden shift in atmosphere made the hairs on my arms stand up. Philip's words had wiped all traces of laughter from the room, leaving behind faces hardened with grim determination. A cold shiver traced its way down my spine as I watched Ace's jaw tighten, his fingers flexing unconsciously at his sides. This wasn't just another strategy meeting - whatever Philip had seen in the forest had changed everything.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. We hadn't come to Thunoa Village for a leisurely vacation. The bandits terrorizing these roads - attacking merchants, ambushing travelers, disrupting vital supplies bound for Silverhowl's lantern festival - needed to be stopped.
I may not be the strongest as the others, but I yearned to support them in any way I could.
