The sky grew overcast as Lyra led the group toward the western side of the Clementine Mountains. The narrow path they followed was eerily quiet, with a cold wind carrying the damp scent of the encroaching fog. The village they passed, previously observed by Jeanne and Virginia, remained as desolate as before. Empty houses with gaping windows resembling lifeless eyes added to the oppressive atmosphere.
"This village was the first to be consumed by the fog," Lyra said softly, her voice clear despite the silence around them. "But I don't know why the fog caused its people to vanish. If it were just ordinary fog, they would still be here, perhaps taking refuge in their homes."
Virginia scanned the area attentively, her fingers poised to cast a spell at a moment's notice. "There's something unnatural about this fog… It feels like it's alive."
