The Miasma Forest grew increasingly oppressive, with the thickening fog exuding a corrosive aura that made the place feel like a toxic wasteland. Aaron led Arna forward carefully, ever-alert to the lurking dangers. As they maneuvered around a cluster of dense vines, the miasma ahead of them stirred, as though a creature were moving stealthily within it.
Through the mist, Aaron glimpsed a graceful silhouette—a mysterious creature radiating an indescribable vitality. As the fog parted slightly, he could finally see it clearly. The creature resembled a deer, with a coat as white as moonlight and elegantly branched antlers reminiscent of a stag's. Its luminous eyes, full of intelligence, met Aaron's gaze, as though it could peer straight into his soul.
A surge of memory from Aaron's past life struck him. This was a Lingmu—an extraordinarily rare magical beast said to inhabit only the purest environments, with an innate ability to blend seamlessly with magic itself. In his past life, he had seen a preserved Lingmu specimen in a dark sorcerer's collection; it was rumored that a Lingmu's eyes could track magical currents, allowing them to detect hidden magical flows. For Aaron's future plans, such an artifact would be an invaluable "treasure."
"Arna, that Lingmu could be invaluable to us," Aaron murmured, his eyes gleaming with excitement and resolve. "Let's try to capture it."
Arna nodded, a rare glimmer of enthusiasm in her gaze. The Lingmu's mystique had been the subject of countless legends, with some seeing it as the embodiment of wisdom and magic itself. She quietly drew her dagger and began circling around, attempting to herd the Lingmu into a more enclosed area.
But the Lingmu seemed to sense their intentions, a flash of alertness in its eyes. Swiftly, it turned, bounding gracefully across the fallen branches and darting deeper into the dense forest. Each agile leap left a trail of ethereal light, blurring its movement. Aaron couldn't help but admire its extraordinary agility. Even witnessing it firsthand, the Lingmu's graceful speed seemed almost otherworldly.
"It appears brute force won't work. We'll need to make it come to us willingly," Aaron murmured. After a moment's thought, he decided on a gentler approach.
He softened his presence, suppressing his magical aura to the bare minimum, and began slowly approaching the Lingmu, trying to seem as non-threatening as possible. Yet the Lingmu remained cautious, watching Aaron intently from a distance, as if trying to gauge his true intentions.
Seeing this, Aaron took out a special magic crystal and placed it gently on the ground. The crystal emitted a warm glow, drawing in ambient magical energy like a tempting "magical sweet." The Lingmu's curiosity was piqued as it cautiously approached, lowering its head to sniff the crystal.
Aaron held his breath, watching the Lingmu's every move. But the creature's instincts proved sharper than he anticipated; just as it was about to touch the crystal, it suddenly raised its head, locking eyes with Aaron as though challenging him to make a move.
Realizing he couldn't easily deceive the Lingmu, Aaron understood that attempting to capture it by force might backfire. He decided to proceed with gradual, non-threatening gestures to slowly gain its trust.
For two days, Aaron, Arna, and the Lingmu danced a delicate game of pursuit and retreat in the Miasma Forest. The Lingmu moved like the wind through the mist, avoiding them with remarkable ease each time they closed in. Its elegant figure would flit in and out of the fog, as if inviting them to a game of hide-and-seek. Aaron tried setting traps, but each time, the Lingmu sensed danger and slipped away with uncanny awareness.
After two days, Aaron began to accept the Lingmu's elusiveness. He sighed inwardly, realizing he couldn't afford to waste endless time here, especially with the Night's Tear still on his agenda. Reluctantly, he let the pursuit go.
Standing in a slightly open area, he watched as the Lingmu's figure faded into the fog, vanishing into the depths of the forest. He resolved that one day, he would find a way to bring this elusive creature under his control.
Seeing the trace of regret in his expression, Arna offered some comfort. "Lord Aaron, even though the Lingmu escaped, we'll have other opportunities in the future. Letting it go today may even help build its trust—perhaps it will approach us willingly one day."
Aaron nodded, his expression composed once more. "True. The Lingmu is invaluable, and capturing it could be a significant asset. But the Night's Tear remains our priority. Since this can't be achieved now, let's put it aside and focus on our mission."
With the Lingmu gone, the forest resumed its eerie silence and oppressive air. Aaron steadied himself, setting aside his regret, and signaled the group to press onward.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Aaron led the team with utmost caution, fully aware that each step into the dense miasma brought them closer to hidden dangers. The poisonous mist thickened, with grayish-purple dust swirling densely in the air, as if ready to engulf them whole. Aaron held his breath, feeling a constriction in his chest. Images of the Night's Tear, with its delicate blue glow, surfaced in his mind, urging him forward.
"Arna, we're nearing the area where the Night's Tear grows. Stay vigilant; the miasma here is suppressing our magic more forcefully," he reminded her in a low voice, his gaze resolute.