"So this is the mysterious fog. No wonder people went missing here."
Xiao and Iva have reached the edge of the Silent Jungle. Xiao lets out his thought about the density of the fog, which was so thick that it covers everything literally.
Xiao estimated that they will use around two days to reach their destination. Still, because of the changes of monsters and beast location, they ended using three days instead.
Throughout the journey, Iva remains in her gloomy mood as she quietly follows Xiao. Xiao noticed it, but he couldn't do anything about it. He was also too focused on safely traversing the terrain.
Besides the pack of wild wolves, they also encountered a few more monsters that were in their way.
Each battle had Iva ponders about Xiao true self as she watched him swiftly and mercilessly eliminate all the monsters. He was a completely different person compared to how he usually lazed around at his home.
Still, thanks to Xiao's cautious travelling and instruction, they safely arrived at the end of the Silent Jungle, which was also the entrance of the Shadow Forest.
"Iva, do you feel anything so far? Like the path to your home or something like that?" asked Xiao.
Iva didn't answer. She just shakes her head in denial.
"I see, so you should be able to sense something if we go deeper into the forest, right?" Xiao asked again to confirm that Iva was shaking her head to deny her not sensing anything, not because she didn't want to return.
Iva stays motionless for a while, then she reluctantly nodded her head because this will be the final phase of their time together.
Seeing Iva's reaction, Xiao took a deep breath to prepare himself.
"Alright, let's go."
The duo enters the fog, and as soon as they went inside, all they can see was fog everywhere, with the vague sight of trees around them.
("Here we are. The Shadow Forest. Why name it shadow anyway? Wouldn't it better to name it Fog Forest instead? Just look at how thick the fog is!")
The visibility was so bad that Xiao can't even see Iva clearly, who was just beside him.
"Stay close to me," says Xiao as he actively holds Iva's hand.
Iva didn't say anything, but she grips Xiao's hand hard in return.
Xiao looks around his surrounding and begins planning his next move.("Although the book has already stated about the fog, I never knew that it would be this bad, and we are still at the starting point. How are we going to travel with such low visibility?")
Xiao feels the air around him, which was cold but still bearable.
("Cold, low temperature. Guess this is why the fog formed.")
After some observation, Xiao concluded that they pass through the forest before nighttime because the fog will get even thicker and the temperature will get even lower. There was no way they can spend a night here.
Poor visibility and a bad temperature environment can literally cost their life. Not only will it raise the chance of getting into an accident, but they were also prone to get ambush quickly.
Xiao decided to walk towards the forest side as he thinks it was safer than walking towards the centre.
Xiao took a peek at Iva to check on her condition. She was still in her usual gloomy mood with her face down.
("Seriously, how the hell can she get out of this forest? Not that I can ask her now, seeing how reluctant of her to talk.")
Xiao activates Gamer Eyes once in a while as he explores the forest to know his surrounding. He didn't spot anything unusual for the time being, but his guts tell him that something is definitely in here.
As they travel deeper into the forest, they started to hear voices from all direction. The howling of animals, the cries of insects and the rustling from the trees, they were coming from everywhere.
Xiao barely can see what's in front of him. He tightens his grip as he held Iva's hand while his other hand was placing at the hilt of his sword.
"You sense the way back home now?" asked Xiao. He was starting to get slight anxious by the surrounding they were in.
"...not yet," Iva timidly answers while shaking her head.
Xiao was happy that she finally gave a verbal response, but it still didn't change the fact that they were in serious trouble right now.
("The book stated that move away from all sort of sounds to locate the path to the Dark Elf place. Easier to say than done! I can't even tell where is my left or right!")
Xiao look left and right to determine their current position, and before he knew it, he has lost the sense of direction.
"Iva, I know it's too late to ask now, but how did you run out from this forest in the first place?" Xiao asked.
"I...I don't know. I never went out of the village before. I passed out somewhere around the forest after running out." says Iva.
"So you don't know how you ended up in the Goblin Hideout?" Xiao asked.
Iva pondered for a while as she tries to remember.
"The first thing I saw right after I regain consciousness was your mask," says Iva.
"...I see."
("So even Iva didn't know the way out or in, then it must be the Goblin who carried her out here. Shit! I should have asked her this back at my home.")
Xiao blamed his own cowardly for not asking Iva more about her village and anything to do with her runaway. He was afraid that he would make her feel uncomfortable.
("She did say village, right? So her homeland is a village. And here I thought it would be a hidden city or something.")
As Xiao was lost in his thought, they started to hear whispers. The whispering gradually comes closer to them, yet Xiao still can't see what was around them.
Xiao knew something was already trying to surround them. He knew they can't stay in a place for too long.
So he made up his mind to activates Gamer Eyes once more, and this time, he plans to keep his skill open until he found or Iva sense the path. That was the only solution he can think of for now.
("I don't know how long my eyes can last, but it's better than letting Iva die here.")
In past experience, if Xiao lets his Gamer Eyes activates for too long, he will start losing the sense of his eyes.
Although Xiao has been careful skill duration, he once carelessly activates his Gamer Eyes for too long and experiences the side effect. It was such a terrifying feeling that made Xiao cautious about the duration ever since that experience.
But now was not the time to get all scared up. While Xiao was fine getting ambush because he can't be killed, Iva doesn't even know how to fight.
Combining with how bad the visible was and Xiao's fighting style, the situation literally spells doom to Iva if they encounter any monster now.
"Iva, I read it from the book that Dark Elf can sense their way back home when they're near, it's true, right?" Xiao asked, while also feeling ashamed that he didn't confirm with Iva much earlier.
He thought Iva wouldn't want to talk about anything related to bringing her back home, which was why he decided to do everything by himself.
But seeing now as it was beyond what he had expected, he has no choice but to be straightforward with Iva.
"...yes, I should be able to sense it when we are near the village," says Iva. She also felt Xiao's worried through how hard he was gripping her hand.
"Good. Alright then, we're gonna walk very fast now, ready yourself," says Xiao. Iva nodded her head in response.
Xiao took a deep breath as he steels himself from the fear of overusing his eyes.
Once Xiao opens his Gamer Eyes, he immediately pulls along Iva and starts running.
"Run! Iva, Run!" Xiao shouted out loud. Iva follows along tightly as she tries her best to keep up with him.
Xiao's eyes return with tons of information within a few seconds after they start running. And the info had Xiao breaking in cold sweats.
("As I thought, shit tons of monsters is already waiting for us.")