Heyden stood at the west gate of Yoshida, he's breath visible in the crisp morning air. He's tapping his foot impatiently. He checked his watch again and huffed.

"Where is that fool Johan? He's going to make us late," Heyden muttered under his breath.

Just then, a lanky man with unkempt brownish blonde hair came bounding up the path.

"Sorry I'm late!" Johan called out. "I got a bit distracted at the tavern last night and slept in."

Heyden rolled his eyes. "I should have known. Must you always be so irresponsible?"

Johan laughed and slapped Heyden on the back. "Lighten up my friend! We've got a long journey ahead through dark forests and perilous mountain passes. Best gather our wits while we still can!"

Heyden scowled but said nothing. Just then, a young woman with long deep purple hair and piercing scarlet eyes approached.

"Haruna," Heyden inclined his head respectfully. "I'm glad you could join us."

Haruna nodded curtly, not cracking a smile. Her posture was rigid and focused.

"Well don't we make a motley crew!" Johan grinned. "The stoic scout, the serious witch, and me, the dashing rogue."

Haruna's eyes flashed with annoyance but she held her tongue. Heyden shook his head and hoisted his pack over his shoulder.

"If you two are ready, we should be off."

The trio set off down the forest path, their footfalls crunching on gravel and dried leaves. Ancient pines towered overhead, blocking out the morning sun. Johan prattled on about some barmaid he met, while Haruna walked in contemplative silence. Heyden kept his senses alert, scanning the woods for signs of the bandits and mercenaries that were reportedly plaguing the area from his previous encounters.

After some time, they came across a lone traveler gathering ingredients along the roadside.

The man looked up as they approached, giving them a nod. "Greetings, friends. Lovely day for a stroll, isn't it?"

Heyden stepped forward, his expression serious. "We've heard troubling rumors of unrest in these parts. Do you know anything?"

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The traveler's face darkened. Leaning in, he said in a low voice, "Beware the Bloody Mist in the Zan highlands. They bring only bloodshed and despair."

With those ominous words, the man gathered his things and went swiftly on his way.

Johan let out a low whistle as they watched him depart. "Well, that was sufficiently foreboding."

"We should move with caution from here on,"

"Ah come on, where's your sense of adventure?" Johan teased. "We'll be fine as long as we stick together."

Haruna gave Johan a reproachful look. "Criminal factions usually take hold of a region with fear"

Johan held up his hands in acquiescence. "You're right, I know. I'll try to rein in the humor a bit, eh?" He nudged Heyden and grinned.

Heyden only shook his head, exasperated but resigned to Johan's antics. With weapons at the ready, the three pressed deeper into the forest, steeling themselves .

Some time later...

"Ah, did I tell you how I found the culprits behind the wine smuggling in the Vilecherry region, Kage?" Johan inquired.

Heyden smirks, "In a tavern, you got drunk and ended up in a fistfight that turned out to involve a crime boss and his goon. They followed you to the inn where you were staying, and you took them out, collecting a bounty. I read this in a report Sosen gave me; you're pretty lucky, nonetheless."

Johan laughed, launching into a series of peculiar stories about his four-day venture on the plains of Vilecherry.

As they continued to trekked through the dense highland forest, Haruna spotted a glint of metal among the underbrush. She stopped and knelt down, brushing aside the leaves to reveal a kunai with a red string tied around the handle.

"This is strange," she said, picking it up and examining it. "The blade is clean. No blood."

Heyden's eyes narrowed, his investigative instincts kicking in. "Someone was attacked here. Fan out and search the area."

They spread out, searching for any other signs of a struggle. It wasn't long before Johan called out, having discovered a body lying face down in the dirt, stripped of any valuables.

Heyden crouched down beside the body, his eyes taking in every detail. "No obvious wounds. Most likely killed by a precise strike to a vital point. His pockets were emptied so clearly robbery was the motive." He stood, gazing around the forest path. "The ambush likely happened at the curve up ahead. Perfect place for an attack."

Haruna nodded. "A wealthy merchant, by the looks of his clothes. The kunai must have belonged to the bandits."

"We should keep moving. The perpetrators may still be close by," Johan said, a hand drifting toward the sword on his hip.

Further down the path, they came across a ramshackle hut. Inside, the remains of a campfire containing a partially burned piece of parchment. Haruna picked it up delicately.

"It rained recently. The leak in the roof must have extinguished the flames, leaving this scrap behind," she mused, squinting at the faint letters. "I can just make out the initials ZH. A letter from someone perhaps?"

Heyden's eyes narrowed, thoughts racing behind his focused expression "Let's find the closest settlement "

Haruna nodded. Johan gripped his sword hilt, scanning the trees for any hidden watchers. Without another word, the three slipped back into the forest, moving swiftly forward