The lead mage, a stern figure draped in robes of deep indigo, looked up as the report came in. His eyes narrowed at the description of the strange mist and the disappearance of the female goblin.
"Bring me those guards," he ordered. "All of them. Now."
As the guards were rounded up and brought to the tower, those infected with the mist maintained their calm façades, standing perfectly still, their eyes no longer glowing outwardly. The magic of the mist had woven deep into their minds, allowing them to appear normal to anyone who did not probe too closely.
The mage, suspicious but thorough, began inspecting the guards. His eyes flickered with blue light as he used his magic to scan them for traces of corruption. He sensed something was off but couldn't pinpoint the exact nature of the disturbance. The enchantments on the guards' armor were designed to resist external magical influences, but the mist had bypassed those protections by targeting their minds.
