The trip was unexpectedly smooth, the ancient road unusually dry when the ground around it had turned into muddy mush. Whether it was masterful engineering or subtle spellcraft, Engelbert had no idea but he appreciated it nonetheless. They made good time, passing by increasingly small village and hamlet until the only sign of civilization left was the unyielding road stretching from beneath their feet to the yawning chasm that was the primeval forest left largely untouched for longer than some kingdoms have existed.

Something in the road prevented nature from encroaching upon it, leaving a single path into the depth of the greenery like the waiting maw of some massive verdant beast. Despite the infamous reputation it was a forest like any other, rich scent of petrichor rising after the heavy rain with the ever-present sound of birds and other critters forming a chaotic symphony alongside the rustling of wind. With frequent beams of sunlight piercing through the canopies, it made for a picturesque scenery where it's almost too easy to forget the danger lurking in this place.

At least until Engelbert spotted yet another tree that was an almost exact copy of the previous, down to the grooves of the root and the arrangement of branches. Twisted magical insanity was rife in this place. Was it a downside or an upside, for having a flawless recollection?

As the sky darkens and the shadows painted the environ in a brand new sinister light, Gray led them to an open glade that was perfectly fit for a camp. It looked like a localized fire raged a few decades back, likely from lightning strike though Engelbert wouldn't discount the torch of a doomed treasure hunter to cause the incident. Nevertheless, it cleared a section of the forest before it peters out and the natural growth hadn't reclaimed the place yet. There's a few shrubberies here and there, but it's a relatively defensible spot once the carts were arranged to wall off the camp.

The knight spent the first few minutes helping to clear the place, heaving and uprooting the largest shrubs. His greaves sank an inch or two into the loamy, still slightly damp soil, but with his assistance what looked like a couple hours of work was finished within minutes. Insects, creepy crawlies, and on one occasion a family of rabbits scattered as he pulled the obstacles off, casually tossing it to the outer edge of the glade before rejoining on Vesemir's call.

[b][color=#4269E2]"Tonight, Ser Vesemir?"[/color][/b] Asked Engelbert with a slight tilt of the head, peering down on the map. It's... hmm, looked like it was actually close enough to feasibly reach, but a night march was an entirely different beast than daytime. [b][color=#4269E2]"It would be quite dangerous, if only from the risk of someone tripping and breaking their ankle. May I know the reason why?"[/color][/b]

As eccentric as their boss were, Vesemir was nothing if not logical. If he wanted a night visit, he should have a good reason why.