The search party moved through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves. The trees loomed tall, their gnarled branches twisting into unsettling silhouettes against the fading light. A faint mist clung to the ground, swirling around their boots as they walked deeper into the woods.
Lidia, as usual, was not paying full attention.
She was deep in conversation with one of the villagers, waving her hands around as she spoke, completely oblivious to the fact that the knight—Sir Brooding McHero—had been watching her for a while now.
He wasn't sure why.
It wasn't intentional.
But his gaze kept drifting back to her, lingering on her way-too-animated expressions and the way she smirked after making some snarky remark.
He hated to admit it, but he was a little... concerned.
Lidia was reckless. She could barely take down a goblin, let alone handle herself in a real fight. What if she got injured? What if she got herself killed?
