The warning Ysolde left behind made the atmosphere in the cave even more oppressive.

The process of distributing supplies no longer held any relief. Instead, it was carried out with a grim, meticulous caution.

Clean water and dried rations were divided equally among everyone. Grace personally kept the box of healing tablets for emergencies.

They all ate in silence, chewing tasteless rations that felt like sawdust in their mouths.

In the corner, the two most severely injured guards sat slumped against the stone wall, their faces ashen.

One had a chest wound from the shadow mist. Though bandaged, a grayish death energy continued spreading from the injury. His breathing came shallow and labored. It was apparent that he was on the brink of death.

The other had lost an arm. Though the bleeding had been stopped, the immense pain and blood loss left him delirious, and he occasionally let out incoherent groans.

Their pitiful state shook the rest of the survivors to their core, rattlin