The Phantom Forest announced itself through sensation before visibility, mana pressure that increased with each step toward the treeline until the air felt thick enough to swim through.
"Stay close," Kane said as they approached the boundary. "First rule of forest travel is never get separated, the trees shift, paths change, what looks like obvious route can become dead end in minutes."
"The trees move?" Rebecca asked, her fire magic flickering unconsciously in response to the ambient energy.
"Not exactly move, but they rearrange when you're not looking directly at them, turn around and the path behind you isn't where you remember, locals call it forest dreaming."
Luthra observed the treeline with tactical assessment, the massive trunks rose fifty feet before branching, bark patterns darker than natural wood should be, mist weaving between roots in ways that suggested intention rather than weather.
