CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY - THREE - THE BEAST OF THE FOREST

Roran scratched his beard thoughtfully. "I can point you in the right direction, but getting to her won't be easy. The deeper you go into the forest, the stranger things become. Creatures that shouldn't exist, paths that lead you in circles... it's not a journey for the faint of heart." As Roran described the perils that lay ahead, Anna felt a chill run down her spine. She had known this wouldn't be easy, but the reality of the dangers they faced was starting to sink in. "Thank you for the warning," she said sincerely. "Is there anything else we should know?" Roran's expression turned grave. "Just this – whatever you do, don't stray from the path. The forest has a way of twisting your mind, making you see things that aren't there. Stick to the path, and you might just make it." With that ominous advice, the rogues prepared to leave. As they gathered their newly acquired supplies, Roran approached Anna one last time. "You showed kindness when you didn't have to," he said quietly. "