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With that final revelation, he vanished into the embrace of the trees, his form swallowed by the ethereal blue mist that had accompanied him throughout our encounter. And I watched him fade into the distance.

With a heavy heart, I turned my gaze to the fallen bodies scattered amidst the shadowed depths of the forest. I approached Allan's lifeless form, his once-vibrant spirit now stilled by the cruel hand of fate.

Gently, reverently, I lifted Allan's body, cradling him in my arms with a tenderness born of comradeship and brotherhood. With each step, the weight of his sacrifice pressed heavily upon me, a silent reminder of the cost of our struggle.

With a sense of purpose, I began the solemn journey back to where we had left the horses, the rhythm of my footsteps echoing the steady beat of my heart.

Through the dappled light of the forest, I navigated the winding path, each step a testament to the bond that had bound us together in life and now in death.

**

I passed through the imposi