From above, Astaroth saw a forest of willows and hazel trees, their branches dried and leafless, as black mist floated ever-present just over the murky water. He knew this was the corruption.
He could also see in the distance, at the edge of his vision, a place where the trees were dying. Astaroth understood that's where he needed to go.
Bursting forward, his wings beating strongly behind him, he made his way there. But the rot seemed to quicken, as if aware of his arrival, and he couldn't quite make it to the edge of its influence.
But the closer he got to it, the further the forest stretched ahead of him. He doubted it had an end.
But he still needed to reach the dragon before the corruption did. Redoubling his efforts, Astaroth used his magic to accelerate his flight, finally surpassing the rot trees.
He kept flying in the same direction, hoping to find the dragon soon.
***
