Sweet Darial,

The Trial Lands are broken hills where Gobos wait like wolves. They nearly had us.

Bam Bam spotted a glint, but too late. The ground gave way beneath half our company, a pit filled with sharpened stakes and mana threads that wrapped like living vines. Emily cried out, Tina was pulled to her knees, Xty shrieked though she still flung sparks at the webbing.

It was John who saved us. He sang words sharp as blades, the air itself cutting through the mana threads. He reached down, grabbed my arm, and yanked me free. “You owe me a drink, quill-man,” he grinned.

Jack’s voice came firm after. “Never walk blind in lands shaped by enemies.”

Bam Bam muttered something about “lesson learned” with a half-smile. Albee said little, only turning her rings slowly, her eyes far away.

We escaped, but I will not forget the feeling of those burning threads on my skin.

Pray for us,
Kyle