The intertwined branches of the Hessataule trees rustled from a gust of wind. The totem's eye did not stop moving and watching what was happening. In this silent stillness that had fallen, it was as if one could feel the deep sighs of the wounded forest. For one minute, everyone froze, succumbing to the influence of the surrounding environment.

"Most likely, this is the main totem that protects the forest. When we freed it from the orcs, it activated and destroyed the traps," Latludious answered his own question.

Everyone instantly thought of Sitting Bull and turned in his direction with a synchronous movement. Following the blackened hand, the filth reached his face, body, and legs. The veins under the skin swelled and glowed with fluorescent bright color.

Ona wiped her tears and calmed down a little. Latludious came up to her, put his hand on her shoulder, and said:

"While we were killing orcs, our teammate rose from 53% to 95%. Let's try with all our might to pump him if we can't save him."

Everyone nodded. Faolandan walked up to Ronnie and said:

"I'll pray to all the gods for your safety. If only at the end of our campaign you would still be alive. Because then you won't have time to do anything, as my bullet will pass right through your fucking arrogant face."

Ronnie grinned back at him.

"You'd better learn not to share your plans with your enemies."

Latludious felt weak and unwell. Endurance did not rise above the five-point mark. He opened the HUD and saw his mana reserve - 8%.

"From now on," he said, "I'll only use the eye to search for opponents. The rest of the time I'll restore mana. All hope is on you Faolandan and on you Ona. In case of further clashes, I'll rely on your ability to deal with packs of monsters."

They headed forward and came out on the trail. A flock of bats flew over their heads but did not touch the travelers. The group went down the slope into a ravine, climbed over fallen trees, and everyone felt the cold of the fog coming from the south. The rays of the sun from time to time made their way through the crowns of trees and, like forgotten lanterns of a war-scarred city, sprayed small shreds of light in the murk of darkness. The sounds of the forest turned into an endless hum and howl, diluted only by the murmur of streams. Thus, they walked for about twenty minutes until a red magic wave in the form of a boomerang flew through them, with such a shock force that everyone almost fell off their feet. The ground under their feet trembled and calmed down.

"What was that?" Faolandan asked.

"There are too many questions today. Don't expect someone to answer you."

"Do you want us to be silent?" he replied, starting to flare up.

They stared in fright when they heard Ona’s cry. Everyone turned around and saw how next to her, in a place where there was not a single symbol, a new one appeared and, in a flash, activated. A red-purple mist floated around the Top Secret's flamethrower and the white of her eye turned purple. Ronnie smiled. Faolandan ran up to her headlong and hugged her. They touched their foreheads and froze as if saying goodbye forever.

"Hold on, I'll get you... both of you out of this damned place," he said in a cheerful manner, with small pauses between sentences. Then he turned around and looked at the magician, dumbfounded and scared. "Think, Bishop," he continued, "think as if your life depends on it."

Latludious stood like a statue and would have stood like that for half a day if Sitting Bull hadn't come up to him and slapped him.

"If there is a way out to, then you have the key to it right here," the Indian said, poking his index finger into his forehead three times.

Ronnie walked up to the symbol, Barahu followed him. He opened the HUD, went to the screenshots tab, and compared the sign he met yesterday with what he saw in front of him. They really differed in a couple of letters.

"AI."

"At your service."

"Have you understood how to distinguish an active trap from a used one?"

"Yes."

"Add this information."

"On it…"

Less than a couple of minutes later, Ronnie received a cash reward for new information.

Meanwhile, Latludious sat down on the cold ground, his head bowed, his fingers gathered in a pyramid under his chin. He tried to take deep and even breaths, concentrated on his own thoughts, replayed all the available information in his head. He squeezed his eyes shut. He plunged into his own world, into a deep subconscious. Where there is no one and nothing, only himself and his thoughts.

"Think," he said to himself, "think."

Ona, frightened and confused, sat down on a hummock, grabbed Faolandan's hand, and did not let go. Ronnie stood like a watchman on a tower. Sitting Bull lit his pipe, smacked his lips, and blew smoke.

"Do you think there is hope? I don't want to die."

"We'll manage," Faolandan answered. "Latludious has never let us down yet. He's our brains, and I'm our weapon. Together we'll overcome any obstacles."

Ona did not feel better after his words, she looked at the magician, did not look away, waited until he got up, and told them everything. Faolandan was looking at her, stroking her palm. His heart was breaking inside. There was a piercing ringing in his ears.

Barahu stood up and barked at the arriving Matafaire. The bird looked up at him without a drop of fear.

They feel death coming, Ronnie thought, he pulled out the Stechkin's pistol and let the bird down with the first bullet. The wolfhound swallowed the prey with joy on his face and wagged its tail with a satisfied look.

Latludious cleared his throat and drew the group's attention to himself. He stood up with a heavy sigh. The face could not be more serious.

"All this time, we've been looking the wrong way," he said.

Everyone held their breath.