Matthias's knuckles turned white as his grip tightened on the sword hilt.

The footsteps outside the cave grew closer, accompanied by heavy panting and the sharp crunch of ice. It was as if a herd of giant beasts were grinding their way across the snowy plains.

Matthias signaled his soldiers to douse the torches. In the sudden darkness, the faint blue glow of the cave's mineral stones stretched the shadows of the 30-odd men into elongated silhouettes across the damp moss.

Heavy, labored breath