The next morning, John found Darius already waiting at breakfast.
That alone told him something was wrong.
Darius normally preferred reading in silence before speaking to anyone.
Today, however, he had three maps spread across the table.
John sat down.
"You look serious."
"I am."
Lythriel arrived behind John.
"That usually means trouble."
Darius pointed at the maps.
"I spent most of yesterday comparing the guild's records."
John leaned forward.
"What did you find?"
"The Silverwood isn't simply unexplored."
He tapped one of the maps.
"Parts of it were mapped decades ago."
John frowned.
"Then why does the guild call it an expedition into an unmapped region?"
"Because the old maps are no longer accurate."
Darius moved another map beside it.
"Several trails have disappeared."
"Some rivers changed course."
"And monster territories are completely different."
Sylvara sat down.
"How different?"
Darius looked at her.
