The morning sun cast long shadows through the jungle canopy as they made their way down a steep coastal path. Professor Nyala stumbled slightly on a root, her usual grace compromised by the tremor in her hands. The chaotic silver energy flickered unpredictably around her fingers, sometimes flaring bright enough to illuminate the nearby leaves, other times dimming to almost nothing.
"The corruption..." she began, then paused, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I'm sorry, what were we discussing?"
Saguna exchanged a worried glance with Radji. This was the third time in an hour she'd lost track of their conversation.
"The village," Radji said gently, supporting her other arm. "You were telling us about the village ahead."
