He didn’t need to slow down to get the loot. Like always, the chest just faded away, and a notification appeared in his field of vision. He kept his pace, checking what he’d won without stopping.

[Gold Chest Opened.]

[Item Acquired: Rank 2 Iron-Body Tempering Manual.]

[Stored in System Inventory.]

He waited for the notification to vanish. He’d gained Iron-Body Tempering, which was a higher grade than the Titan-Marrow he’d used previously. He filed it away for later.

Right now, what came next was getting back before Lyra’s watch ended.

He started running at full speed, letting everything around him become a blur.

The Safe Zone glow was visible through the fog from about two hundred meters out.

Holden slowed to a jog a hundred meters before he reached it.

He took a quick look at himself.

He saw blood on his jacket. The snake’s tooth had caught his jacket during his last move, leaving a bloody streak behind.

He looked down at his hands and reached for a tiny spark of his Asura’s Ignition. He didn’t let the full power out or let it overwhelm him. He kept it low and steady. It was just enough heat to work with, like a small light that he could guide exactly where he wanted.

Fshhh.

The blood burned off his sleeve in under a second. No smoke, no smell, nothing left behind.

He smoothed the fabric down.

The jacket looked exactly as it had when he left.

He put his mask back on and pulled his power in tight until it was completely hidden. He looked like an ordinary person just walking around to check the area.

He stepped across the fog line and the clean air hit him.

The temple was quiet. Most of the students from other teams were sleeping.

Emric was an unmoving shape against the east wall, his shield resting against his shoulder.

Renna had rolled over while sleeping and was now using the supply bag as a pillow. She managed to get more comfortable without ever opening her eyes.

Lyra was exactly where he had left her.

She sat up tall with her spear resting on her knees, watching the entry path. When she heard him walk across the fog line, she turned her head to look at him.

She studied him for a moment, her eyes searching his jacket and hands for any clues. He was walking with the same calm, steady pace he always had. There wasn’t a single thing in his posture to suggest that his last two hours had been anything out of the ordinary.

You were gone for a long time just to check the area," she said softly. He sat down and leaned his back against the wall. "I was just making sure everything was safe," he said.

She was quiet for a moment.

"It must have been very," she stopped for a second, "busy out there tonight."

"Nothing happened," he said.

They were quiet again, and this time the silence lasted longer.

She had a strong gut feeling about things. He had known that ever since they were at the meditation lake. She was putting the pieces together now. The way she was being quiet showed that she had figured something out, but she had decided not to say anything.

"You should rest," she said finally. "Day two starts when the fog cycle turns."

She looked back at the entry path.

Discussion closed.

Holden lay down on the floor and listened to the ruins being quiet outside the circle. After a few minutes, the quiet stopped feeling like something waiting and started feeling like something finished.

He closed his eyes.

Morning came gradually.

Renna woke up before everyone else. She jumped up suddenly, reaching for her bow before she was even fully awake. It took her a moment to realize she was safe.

"Right," she said, shaking off the sleep. "Ruins. Fog. I’ve got it. We’re fine." Emric blinked his eyes open and immediately went through his routine. He checked his compass, glanced at the glowing status of the formation, and jotted down a quick note. Then he scanned the other teams, subtly counting heads to make sure everyone was still accounted for.

"Attendance appears consistent," he said. "No overnight losses from the visible teams."

"That’s a relief," Renna said. She stretched both arms over her head. "I slept like a rock. Which makes sense because I was lying on one. How was the watch?"

"Uneventful," Lyra said.

Holden yawned.

Across the temple, Draven’s team was waking up, but they sounded different. They were quieter and seemed more tense. It caught his attention because it felt out of place.

Draven was already on his feet, staring out toward the fog. His whole vibe had changed overnight. The relaxed, confident way he usually carried himself was completely gone. He looked like he was bracing himself for something.

He looked at the fog for a long moment.

Then he turned and spoke quietly to the student nearest to him.

"He’s not back yet," Draven whispered, though his voice was still clear enough to be heard. "Marren should have returned before dawn. Even if he ran into trouble, his cloak gave him an edge. He really should be back by now."

The student said something Holden couldn’t catch.

I know what I’m talking about," Draven said. His voice sounded much more stressed and tense than it did yesterday. "Something bad happened out there in the fog, and I have to find out what it was."

He turned and looked directly at Holden.

Holden met his eyes.

Then he yawned again, shifted against the wall, and looked away.

Across the temple, Draven’s face twisted with a mix of confusing emotions. He wasn’t smirking anymore. Instead, his face looked tired and worried. It was a real look of fear or sadness, not the fake mask he usually wore to look cool.

Renna leaned toward Emric and whispered, "Is Draven okay? He looks like he’s seen a ghost." Emric nodded. "He definitely looks like he’s dealing with a lot of anxiety right now."

"Huh." She looked at Holden. "You know anything about that?"

Holden closed his eyes.

"No idea," he said.