Two weeks passed, then three.
His camp moved repeatedly as he traveled deeper. He fought dozens of creatures along the way.
A giant serpent capable of manipulating earth. A colony of poisonous insects that forced him to abandon an entire valley. A massive bear with skin harder than metal.
Several corrupted creatures that had wandered unusually deep into the forest.
Those concerned him.
The corruption was spreading farther than previous reports suggested. Atheline marked every location and sent them back to Lilith but he didn't leave, not yet.
By the twenty-fourth day, he returned to Wind and this time, he didn't summon it.
Atheline stood on the edge of an enormous cliff overlooking the forest. He closed his eyes and wind touched his face.
He didn't manipulate it, fill it with Aether or command it. He simply felt it's movement.
That was his first thought.
