With the addition of Sarrah and Bethany to their group, Oliver, Sophia, and Gregory found themselves with two new capable allies for their quest. The circle grew powerful, and each member brought unique skills. Together, with their combined abilities, the group became a formidable force.

     Soon, Oliver, Sophia, Gregory, Sarrah, and Bethany found themselves inside a spacious carriage. The men sit together on the other side while the ladies have their seats on the opposite. The vehicle was large enough to hold them and required four horses to pull it through the busy streets.

"Hmm..." Gregory stared at the others with a blank face.

"What's on your mind, Greg?" Oliver asked, noticing Gregory's hardened expression.

"Just thinking about how large and formidable our group is," Gregory replied, putting his fingers on his lips.

"Truly. We certainly have such skills and abilities," Sophia said. "We'll be ready against those Pyrovoidians."

"Mhm," Oliver nodded, lacing at Sophia and Gregory. "Huh, I guess you're right, guys. With five of us... we stand a much better chance than going through it all alone."

Gregory nodded, closing his eyes and smirking to himself.

Sophia glanced at Bethany. "Hello. I'm Sophia."

"Oh, hello," Bethany replied.

"My, you look young. How old are you?" she asked.

"Seventeen, Ma'am," Bethany answered, smiling.

"Oh, my! You're indeed young!" Sophia gasped. "I'm nineteen, by the way."

"How lovely," Bethany grinned.

Sophia then turned to Sarrah. "You're Sarrah, right?"

"I am," she replied, staring at the street through the window.

"How old are you?" Sophia asked.

"Nineteen," Sarrah answered while still staring at the road.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you," Sophia said. She then felt a light tap on her shoulder. "Hm? Yes?" Sophia glanced to her left in response.

"You're Sophia, right?" Bethany asked kindly.

"Yes, I am," she introduced herself calmly. "Nice to meet you."

Bethany gasped. "Aren't you Oliver Podeshire's former fiancée?"

"Oh, Bethany. I was," Sophia rested her eyes.

Oliver glanced at the girls. "...I think I'm beginning to despise it when someone refers to Sophia as my former fiancée," he whispered into Gregory's ears. "Like- neither of us had a choice. We were only in an arranged marriage."

     Unexpectedly, the carriage halted, almost throwing everyone from their seats. Confused, Oliver leaned forward to a window and opened it. He then poked his head through and looked around. He immediately saw a head-tilting gateway before them. As his gaze shifted to the street, his eyes caught four guards blocking their path.

"I'm going down," Oliver uttered.

"Wait, Oli," Gregory said.

     Oliver grabs the doorknob and swings the door open. He then steps down and approaches the four guards arguing with their coachman. Meanwhile, Sophia, Gregory, Sarrah and Bethany hop off the carriage and follow him, keeping their footsteps steady and silent.

Oliver approached the guards and greeted them respectfully. "Greetings, gentlemen. What seems to be the problem?" he stood before them, keeping his posture tall and upright.

The guards stopped speaking with the coachman and bowed at Oliver immediately.

"Sir Podeshire, we are deeply sorry to halt your carriage. It is forbidden to leave the city at this time. The mayor has declared a quarantine," one of the guards stepped forward and explained.

"Why? What's wrong?" Oliver questioned.

"The mayor has declared quarantine after you discovered the... the f-fire o—" another guard stepped forward and stated, stuttering his words.

"The Pyrovoidians?" Oliver clarified.

"Yes, sir," the guard confirmed.

Oliver looked at Gregory. "A quarantine," Oliver murmured.

"So, we can't leave?" Gregory raised a brow.

"Yes, sir," the guard nodded.

Oliver took a deep breath and turned towards the guards. "We are here on behalf of the government and are here to assist the military. We need to get to Asbranne Lake," he claimed.

"Fine, we'll let you through. But, all of you must walk by foot to protect this coachman," a guard stated.

     Oliver nods as he lets out a breath. He then turns around and glances at his friends one by one. He then locks his eyes on his companions and smiles at them.

     Oliver and his companions exchange light nods. Oliver then turns around and sees the tall gateway creaking open, revealing the grassland on the other side. Taking a sharp breath through his nose, Oliver steps forward and passes through the gate with his friends.

     Soon, as the group ventured on their journey, the once-blue sky started to turn warm on the horizon. A thick fog that appeared opaque shrouded the direction ahead. Far to their left, the dense woods loomed with trees that cast pitch-black darkness on the bottom.

     As Oliver, Sophia, Gregory, Sarrah and Bethany enter the forest, the leaves underfoot crunches through the silence. Gregory scans the area with keen eyes, searching for any signs of danger. The thick foliage around them provides them cover. But it also covers predators lurking nearby. The trees grow closer, and the darkness blankets them.

"It's too dark to see anything," Gregory whispered as they marched across the ocean of trees.

"I hope there aren't any dangerous creatures in these woods," Sarrah narrowed her eyes. She then sighed. "We're not going too deep into the forest, aren't we? This place is bringing back some bad memories," she said as her pace became slower and steady. "It's suffocating me..."

"I couldn't breathe as well," said Bethany. "Are you girls still wearing your stays, though?" she asked.

"Of course. Who would be able to run without stays?" Sophia said as she hugged her body tightly and tucked her neck.

     Suddenly, Oliver's hands ignite with elemental power, and he conjures flames in less than a second, summoning a bonfire before them. The warm orange glow illuminates the dark atmosphere, revealing the space around them. Oliver then closes his fists and opens them, releasing a cascade of glittering sparks that dances in the air before settling on the ground.

     As the sparks touched the earth, tall thorny bushes grew instantly. It formed a natural barricade around the group, shielding them from any potential danger hiding in the darkness. The thorns glinted like razor-sharp knives, creating a formidable fortress against any threats.

"We'll camp for the night," Oliver stated, smiling at everyone.