The tension spreading in Xiltra was heavy and enormous.
Since the Jungle Expedition had been defeated humiliatingly, leaving only 15,000ish mentally broken Adventurers and Mercenaries behind, nobody felt safe near the Untamed Jungle.
The situation grew worse as the stories of the Jungle's Curse began to circulate. Rumors spread like wildfire, and the situation didn't improve even after the 13 Paladins arrived.
In fact, the fear of what might happen to the 13 Paladins was why some citizens asked the Paladins to retreat to the city and leave the Untamed Jungle.
The citizens didn't want the Untamed Jungle to take revenge on them for enraging it. But that was not all. Some citizens knew that the morale within Xiltra would worsen if something was to happen to the 13 Paladins. If they died, nobody would want to stay near the border of the Untamed Jungle anymore.