Aaron led Arna and a few subordinates down a narrow path on the edge of the Miasma Forest. The dry leaves and vines beneath their feet made faint rustling sounds as they moved, and an eerie silence surrounded them. The entrance to the forest was not far ahead, with poisonous mists swirling like ghosts between the trees. The grayish-purple fog clung to the branches, casting an ominous hue over the area, making it seem as though the land was covered in a strange, venomous liquid. The air had a foul, decaying scent.
Aaron, walking at the front of the group, took slow, deliberate steps, his eyes alert. He frowned slightly; the miasma here was denser than he had anticipated, and the magical fluctuations in the air seemed to distort, like thick mud slowly swirling in the darkness, giving the entire place a suffocating feeling.
He recalled the descriptions of the Miasma Forest in the family library:
"The Miasma Forest is a place where poisonous fog and ancient magic merge, corroding all living things within, causing mutations. Creatures here are highly sensitive to magical fluctuations and can be easily disturbed."
With this in mind, Aaron stopped and turned to Arna and the others, speaking quietly. "The miasma will corrode our magic, so try to keep it contained. Be careful when casting spells, or we might stir up unnecessary trouble."
Arna nodded, gripping her dagger tightly, her expression serious as she scanned the surroundings. The forest was eerily quiet, with no sounds of birds or wind—seemingly all life had been corrupted by the poisonous miasma, leaving behind only the haunting stench of decay.
Aaron continued forward cautiously, observing the terrain carefully. The forest floor was covered in withered grass and twisted vines, and the tree bark was rough and dull, as if corroded by the poisonous fog for decades. Some parts of the bark had peeled away, exposing shriveled trunks that gave off a pale, dead-gray hue.
"This area is still on the outskirts of the miasma, but the magical fluctuations are already abnormal," Aaron murmured. He lightly traced his fingers through the air, and a wisp of gray-purple mist wrapped around his hand, seemingly alive, slowly dispersing. Not only did the miasma visually distort everything around them, but it also had a corrosive effect, making it feel as though even breathing was a struggle.
Arna took a deep breath and frowned slightly. "The miasma here seems to have a corrosive effect. Our basic magical shields won't hold up, and if we go deeper, it'll be even more difficult."
"Yes, the Miasma Forest is especially harsh on magic, so we need to be extra careful," Aaron replied with a nod. "In addition, the miasma attracts certain creatures that are highly sensitive to magic. Every move we make might be noticed by beasts lurking deeper in the forest."
Before he finished speaking, a faint rustling sound came from ahead. Aaron's eyes narrowed, and he signaled for the group to stay alert. The rustling grew louder, and they followed the sound to find a large lizard-like creature slowly making its way toward them.
It was a venomous lizard, larger than a normal one—about the size of an adult man. Its gray-black scales glowed faintly with a purple light, and its tail had a blunt, hammer-like protrusion, clearly designed for attacking. Its eyes gleamed coldly as it sniffed the air, releasing a faint purple mist as it searched for magical fluctuations.
Aaron frowned, lowering his voice. "This venomous lizard is highly sensitive to magical energy. If it detects even the slightest disturbance, it will attack. We need to avoid it."
Taking a deep breath, Aaron suppressed his magical aura to its lowest point, blending into the miasma as much as possible. He silently began to retreat. Arna and the others followed his lead, ensuring no noise was made.
The venomous lizard crept closer, seemingly unaware of their presence. Its gaze was unfocused, sluggish. Just as it was about to pass by Aaron, it suddenly stopped, its head snapping around to alertly scan the area, as if it had sensed something. Aaron's heart raced, and he readied himself to act, his magic swirling quietly in preparation for a possible confrontation.
The lizard sniffed the air a few more times, and after a long moment, it slowly turned and lumbered away, its tail dragging behind it. Aaron exhaled quietly and motioned for the group to continue.
Though this outer region of the Miasma Forest wasn't as dangerous as the heart of it, the odd plants and decaying environment still created a stifling atmosphere. As they walked, Aaron noticed the ground was thick with moss, and the air was filled with fine, sticky dust. If inhaled, the dust could cause severe breathing difficulties.
"This dust is likely part of the miasma," Aaron muttered, signaling the group to put on their masks. "Don't breathe it in directly. Slow your breathing and reduce exposure."
Arna nodded in agreement, following closely behind Aaron, her eyes scanning the surroundings nervously. She knew that this forest was not only filled with poisonous miasma and monsters but also countless hidden dangers, and one misstep could lead them into an irreparable situation.
Just then, a soft rustling sound came from the bushes ahead, as if something was moving through the leaves. Aaron held up a hand, signaling the group to stop, and they quickly blended into the shadows, holding their breath and observing. The sounds of the leaves rustling grew louder, as though a creature was slowly approaching.
A moment later, a shadow darted from the bushes, moving with surprising grace. Aaron focused his gaze and saw a small, cat-like black beast, its fur dense and sleek. Its long ears and snake-like tail, tipped with a small bone spike, made it look like a miniature assassin. Its eyes gleamed like dark red jewels, radiating an ominous light, as though it were hunting in the shadows.
Aaron quickly recognized it as a rare "Shadowtail Cat," a magical beast that preys on miasma-infused creatures. Extremely cunning and dangerous, these creatures can swiftly move through shadows and launch surprise attacks. Despite its small size, the Shadowtail Cat is highly alert and capable of deadly precision.
Aaron's alertness spiked. He kept his magic suppressed as he led the group to carefully retreat. The Shadowtail Cat lingered in the undergrowth for a while, seemingly unaware of their presence, before disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Aaron let out a quiet breath, signaling the group to continue toward the deeper parts of the Miasma Forest.
Throughout their journey, they avoided many hidden dangers, using their stealth skills and magic to conceal their presence. Every step in the Miasma Forest was fraught with uncertainty, and Aaron couldn't help but feel a sense of awe toward the forest's overwhelming power.
The outer region of the Miasma Forest had taught him how much stronger the miasma's corrosive power was than he'd imagined, and how much more ferocious the creatures inside could be. He realized that the further they went, the more perilous their journey would become. But the Night's Tear awaited in the heart of the forest, and to achieve his goal, he had no choice but to venture deeper.