Emily POV
Emily adjusted her gas mask as the vehicle rolled toward the outer gate.
The fortified walls of City 89 loomed behind them, disappearing slowly in the rearview mirror.
Professor Catherine sat behind the wheel, her eyes focused ahead, her fingers lightly drumming the steering wheel.
The ID checks had taken longer than expected, but they’d cleared it without issue.
Alice sat silently in the backseat, her gaze steady through the tinted window.
Tyr was packed in the keeper’s carrier in the back compartment.
As they passed beyond the protective barrier of the city, everything changed.
The sky dimmed.
The air outside became thick, and heavy.
The sun turned crimson like a swollen red eye peering through the cracked sky.
The land was fractured.
Long stretches of broken earth spread out in every direction, as if some massive beast had clawed through it ages ago.
Emily looked out the window and muttered. “Whoa.”
“It’s always like this outside the cities?” Alice asked.
“Yes.”
Professor Catherine kept her eyes on the road but glanced at the rearview mirror.
“Look at the red sun. You two know why it looks different outside, right?” she asked, her voice even.
Alice nodded. She could feel Professor Catherine’s gaze on her through the mirror.
“The city’s barriers filter it. Inside the walls, the light is altered so it appears normal to us. It’s one of the basic-level protections that is available even without a Lord.”
Professor Catherine gave a short nod, her attention drifting back to the road.
They were all wearing gas masks now, their voices slightly muffled as they spoke.
Professor Catherine broke the silence again. “Alright, next question. Why the masks?”
Emily sat up straighter, her voice eager. “Oh! I know this one.”
Professor Catherine chuckled softly at her enthusiasm.
“It’s the air,” Emily continued. “There’s mana contamination outside. The particles are too dense. Normal people would start coughing blood within minutes. Only Overlord-ranks can breathe freely here, and even they can’t stay out for long without protection.”
“Correct,” Professor Catherine said. “The air will poison you slowly. It’s worse near corrupted zones, so keep the masks on.”
They drove for about an hour.
The landscape remained unchanging. It was all endless rock and fractured soil for a long distance.
Then, they reached their destination.
In front of them stood a forest of twisted black trees.
There were no leaves, or signs of life. Just skeletal trunks stretching upward like clawed hands.
The branches looked brittle, but something about the silence made them feel stronger than steel.
“We’re here,” Professor Catherine said, turning off the engine. “Everyone out.”
Tyr slowly stepped out of the carrier as Catherine opened the back compartment. His bark-like skin blended with the scorched forest. He looked around with slow, heavy movements.
Professor Catherine adjusted the straps of her sword. “We walk from here.”
Emily looked at the forest and hesitated. “Is it safe here? I can’t sense any monsters.”
“Every place outside the city has monsters. If you can detect them, it means they are stronger than you and can’t be detected by you,” Professor Catherine replied bluntly. “Follow me. Stay alert, and don’t let your guard down.”
Alice looked around.
She seemed nonchalant, but one could faintly see the hidden excitement in her gaze.
“Are strong monsters common here?”
“Champion-rank monsters are like cabbages out here,” Professor Catherine said.
Emily gulped. “Got it.”
They started moving.
The group walked in a loose formation, Professor Catherine taking point, Tyr close behind, and the girls flanking either side.
The ground beneath them crunched like broken glass, every step echoing faintly.
Then came the mist.
It was thin at first—barely noticeable—but it thickened within seconds. A cold chill wrapped around their ankles, rising quickly to their knees.
Professor Catherine stopped suddenly. Her body stiffened. “Why is that here?”
Alice paused behind her. “What’s wrong?”
A sudden thought came to Professor Catherine.
’Did it come here because of Isaac’s land?’
Professor Catherine scanned the tree line, but visibility was dropping fast.
The forest ahead became shadows behind curtains of white.
“We need to turn around,” she said quickly.
She turned, but the mist was already behind them, creeping toward the road. It was too late.
Alice held her breath as the fog closed in.
“What is it?” she asked quietly.
Professor Catherine spoke in a sudden firm voice. “Whatever happens in this mist, whatever you hear, or see, or feel, don’t respond. That thing is one of the stronger Overlord rank monsters.
“Killing it needs Overlord rank awakeners. Thankfully, there is a way to avoid it without fighting it.
“Keep walking. Don’t stop. Don’t talk. Don’t turn open your eyes. Don’t respond. And don’t ever, ever answer when something calls your name.
“Act like you can’t see the mist.”
Emily looked like she was about to ask another question, but Professor Catherine raised her hand to silence her.
“Just keep moving,” Professor Catherine said.
The last bit of sky vanished. The mist swallowed them whole.
…
Emily couldn’t see anyone.
Her breath hitched.
The mist seemed to have a strange effect on her mind.
The ground under her felt soft and wet, even though it was cracked a moment ago.
She wanted to call for the others. But the warning echoed in her head—Don’t respond. Don’t talk. Don’t stop.
She kept floating forward, slowly, steadily.
Then she heard a voice.
It was Isaac’s voice.
“Emily,” he called, gently. “Emily, I’m here.”
Her heart jumped.
She shut her eyes tightly and kept moving.
“Emily, come here,” he said again, voice warmer, like he always used when comforting her.
Her pace faltered. Just a step.
She forced her body forward.
The voice grew louder. It was still Isaac’s, but something was off. The tone felt stretched, like it was too wide for a human throat.
“Why are you ignoring me?” it said, irritation creeping in.
Emily’s hands shook.
Her eyes stayed shut. She floated faster.
Then Isaac’s voice snapped.
“Stop running! Come back, now!”
She clenched her fists. Her breath came out ragged.
“I said stop! Why are you running away from me!?”
Tears welled behind her lids, hearing Isaac shout at her.
But she didn’t stop.
Then, the voice changed.
“Emily.”
The voice froze her blood.
It was her mother’s voice.
Kind. Loving. Safe.
“I’m here, sweetheart. Don’t be afraid anymore. I’ll talk to Isaac. He shouldn’t yell at you like that.”
Emily’s legs locked. Her body wouldn’t move.
No.
She knew her mother couldn’t be here.
She knew her mother was dead.
But hearing that voice again… it broke something.
Her knees buckled slightly.
“Come here, baby,” the voice said softly. “Let me hold you.”
Emily’s chest trembled. She bit her lip, hard. Blood ran down her chin.
She didn’t move.
She couldn’t.
Something touched her hand.
Then arms wrapped around her.
The warmth felt real. Too real.
She didn’t dare open her eyes.
“Shhh,” the voice whispered into her ear. “Everything’s okay. Mommy’s here.”
Emily felt her control slipping over her body.
She was about to open her eyes when suddenly—
Boom!
A blast of heat crashed through the air.
The arms around her vanished.
The presence disappeared.
Emily’s eyes stayed shut, but her mind was spinning.
Then she heard another voice.
“Emily! Are you okay?!”
Alice.
That was Alice’s voice.
“I’m sorry for being late. Are you hurt?” Alice asked, her voice full of concern.
Emily almost answered.
Almost opened her eyes.
Then she froze.
Wait.
How did Alice get to her?
Emily hadn’t moved. She was still in the mist. Professor Catherine had said not to stop, and only by walking forward they could escape the mist.
Emily hadn’t moved.
So how did Alice reach her inside the mist that alerted Professor Catherine?
Something wasn’t right.
“Emily, say something. Please. I’m really worried.”
Emily stayed silent.
“Emily, say something. I’m worried.”
She didn’t respond.
“Emily, say something. I’m worried.”
“Emily! Say something! I’m worried!”
“Emily! Say something! I’m worried!”
The voice grew louder.
It screeched against her eardrums.
“Emily! Say something! I’m worried!”
Emily was shivering.
Something deep in her gut screamed at her—Don’t reply.
She moved forward again.
Slow, shaky, but moving.
The fake Alice kept screaming.
“I’m worried about you, Emily! Tell me you are alright!”
She didn’t stop. She didn’t answer.
Her entire body shook.
The voice followed her for what felt like forever.
Then, slowly… it faded.
No more voices. No more screaming.
Just silence.
She still didn’t open her eyes.
Still moved forward, hoping she wasn’t lost.
How long had it been? A minute? An hour?
How would she know when the mist was gone?
Should she open her eyes?
She kept going.
Then, she bumped into someone.
A hand gently held her shoulders.
“Emily,” Alice said again. “You can open your eyes now. You’ve left the mist.”
Emily still didn’t speak.
Still didn’t move.
A warm hand patted her head.
Something soft and gentle spread from her scalp down through her body. Warmth. Calm. Safety.
It healed something deep inside her.
It felt… pure.
Emily’s shivering slowed.
She knew this. This was Alice’s real skill.
But…
What if the mist was making her hallucinate—
Tearing through her concerns, Alice’s hand moved towards her eyelids and made her open her eyes.
Emily resisted at first, but then she slowly opened her eyes.
Alice stood in front of her, tall and protective.
Her blonde hair flowed slightly in the breeze.
“You did well,” Alice said. “That must’ve been terrifying.”
Emily looked around.
The red sun hung above them again.
The mist was retreating. Professor Catherine and Tyr stood nearby, silent and alert.
Emily had been the last one out.
The edge of the mist was far behind them now. It was still crawling toward the city.
Alice gave her a gentle pat on the head.
Without a word, Emily jumped forward and hugged her tightly.
She began to cry.
Her small frame shook in Alice’s arms.
Alice didn’t say anything. She just held her.