With the mist creeping ever closer, the unseen threat lingering around them, and the harsh, tangled terrain of the forest underfoot, Eccar and the party escorting him couldn't afford to let their focus stray beyond the few meters around them. Every step demanded their full attention now.
They had already agreed to drop Annette's protective Magic dome. Moving forward through this miserable forest track meant they would constantly step out of the dome's range anyway. With cliffs to climb, thick roots to navigate, and fallen trees barring their path, a stationary defense was useless here. And truthfully, they weren't weaklings in need of such coddling. Even Eccar — the one they were supposed to protect — showed no sign of needing anyone's shield.
It was better this way, everyone silently agreed. Without the dome, they could move and fight more freely.
