Chapter 304: Nature Of The Crimson Fog

For several seconds after Aelric made that statement, a chilling silence settled over the group, making the atmosphere feel as though the warmth of their newfound hope had been abruptly extinguished.

The breeze continued to sweep across the rocky ledge, stirring their garments, yet nobody seemed particularly conscious of it. Their attention remained fixed on the green-eyed youth, each silently attempting to make sense of what he had just told them.

However, as though he had not just delivered a rather unpleasant revelation, Aelric continued speaking. "Even if you do find a way to leave the Nether Lands, I highly doubt you would be permitted to take it."

Before anyone could question what he meant, he added, "That is because such a privilege is not yet available to people like you. As a matter of fact, even I, who am standing here speaking to you, have not earned the right to take it."

Surprise became evident on their faces.

Regaleon turned towards him, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean by that? Is the Sanctuary so restrictive that they would deny you the right to leave the Nether Lands, or does it have something to do with some other arrangement?"

The instant those words left his mouth, the lofty pedestal upon which the group had placed the Sanctuary seemed to wobble. Until now, they had regarded the place as a refuge, perhaps even a beacon of civilisation amidst the overwhelming desolation of the Nether Lands.

Yet, if it possessed the means to grant people freedom but deliberately withheld such a privilege, then perhaps it was considerably more authoritarian than they had imagined.

After all, what sort of sanctuary would keep people trapped in a place like this when it could offer them a way out?

Contrary to their assumptions, however, Aelric merely shook his head.

"And who told you that the Sanctuary possesses the ability to make people leave the Nether Lands?" he asked. "Think about it. If they truly possessed such an ability, do you honestly believe the Sanctuary would still exist at all? Besides, even if that were the case, do you think I would be here scouting for people like you?"

His questions, delivered with the same casual bluntness that had become characteristic of him, made the group reconsider his earlier statements from an entirely different perspective.

Indeed, just as Aelric had pointed out, the Sanctuary would hardly have any reason to exist if it could freely send people back to the Aetherium.

Why remain in this dreadful land, struggling against creatures that could tear them apart, when they could return to civilisation and resume their lives?

Though Aetherium was hardly free of hardship, but even its most unpleasant circumstances would seem preferable to living somewhere that made surviving until the following morning an accomplishment.

Furthermore, if the Sanctuary possessed such an ability, surely Aelric would have already fought for the right to leave.

He had spent six years in the Nether Lands, and considering his experience and apparent capabilities, he must have accomplished enough during that time to establish himself as a valuable member of the organisation.

If anything, he would probably have been among those most deserving of such a privilege.

Yet here he was, still wandering through the Crimson Forest, escorting a group of inexperienced exiles towards the Sanctuary. If he could have returned to the Aetherium, there was little reason to believe he would have chosen to remain in this place.

The conclusion was difficult to avoid: the Sanctuary itself did not possess the means to grant anyone freedom from the Nether Lands.

But that only raised another question.

If the Sanctuary could not help them leave, why was Aelric so certain that an escape was possible? More importantly, why had he spoken of its price with such conviction?

As though recognising the direction of their thoughts, Aelric shook his head and spoke dismissively.

"Unfortunately for you, even if you ask, I wouldn’t tell you. Some matters are simply beyond your understanding at the moment. However, should you reach the Sanctuary safely, it will only be a matter of time before you come across these things yourselves."

And just like that, he closed the conversation.

The small flame of hope that had briefly ignited within the group diminished like a candle deprived of oxygen. Their expressions became somewhat subdued, although none appeared particularly surprised by Aelric’s unwillingness to elaborate.

By now, they had learnt that extracting information from him was often more difficult than extracting an Aether Core from a creature’s corpse.

Meanwhile, Aureleah, who had quietly listened to the exchange, shifted her gaze towards the crimson fog gathering beneath the trees. Seemingly unwilling to let the conversation remain centred on their uncertain prospects of returning home, she turned towards Aelric.

"Aelric..."

The green-eyed youth glanced at her.

"Since your purpose for bringing us here is to broaden our horizons and give us some understanding of this place, could you start by explaining the origin of that fog?" She pointed towards the forest below. "Is it a natural phenomenon, or is there something else responsible for it?"

Aelric followed her gaze and answered readily, almost as though he had anticipated the question.

"Well, that depends on what you consider natural. You see, that crimson mist is a characteristic feature of the Scarlet Canopy. It isn’t exclusive to this region, either. It gathers in places where Nether energy has accumulated over extended periods."

He briefly observed the fog drifting between the enormous tree trunks before continuing.

"It isn’t necessarily dangerous in small quantities, but prolonged exposure can become troublesome over time. As a matter of fact, it is only because the Scarlet Canopy lies near the edge of the Nether Lands that the fog exists in such a diluted state. Had you found yourselves deeper within the Crimson Forest, I’m not sure you would have survived a week under the same conditions."

A chill swept through the group as a rather unpleasant realisation dawned upon them.

Who would have thought that something they had regarded as little more than an unusual atmospheric feature could actually be potentially fatal?

The crimson fog had appeared almost beautiful from their position, its slow movements lending the forest an enchanting quality. Yet, beneath that picturesque appearance lay something considerably more sinister.

As expected of the Nether Lands, even the scenery seemed determined to conceal a murderous disposition. Apparently, everything in this place was either actively trying to kill them or patiently waiting for an opportunity to do so.

Veyrath glanced down at the fog, his expression tightening. "So, even the mist is dangerous? Wonderful. I suppose the next thing you’ll tell us is that the air itself is poisonous."

"Not quite," Aelric replied, giving him a fleeting glance. "Although, considering how frequently you complain, I wouldn’t recommend testing that possibility."

Vaelorin suppressed a faint chuckle, while Veyrath gave Aelric an offended look.

"You really do have a remarkable talent for reassurance," the failed Alchemist muttered.

Aelric paid little attention to the remark and continued.

"You see, although the fog is dangerous, that primarily applies to Etheryeans like us who aren’t accustomed to absorbing Nether energy. There are creatures that have adapted to such environments. As you already know, they are called Netherytes. Some Animas are also largely unaffected by Nether energy, although others tend to avoid it, particularly areas where its concentration is especially dense."

Kaeloris nodded slowly, absorbing the information. His scholarly instincts were clearly at work, although he wisely refrained from asking whether the mist could be collected or studied.

Given their circumstances, such an experiment would probably have been an excellent way to discover how quickly Nether energy could kill an Etheryean.

Aelric then turned towards the group.

"You know, I truly admire your luck. Of all the places you could have been exiled to in the Nether Lands, you were sent to its outermost region, which is also the safest. If that isn’t luck, then it must have been an extraordinary stroke of fortune."

There was something peculiar about his tone. Beneath the casual remark lay a faint trace of melancholy, and his green eyes gradually lost their usual liveliness as they wandered towards the distant forest.

For a moment, he seemed to be looking at something beyond the landscape before him, something buried in memories that the others knew nothing about.

Perhaps he was remembering a place far deeper within the Nether Lands, or perhaps an experience that had taught him just how cruelly fortune could distinguish between those who survived and those who did not.

Whatever it was, Aelric offered no explanation.

After several seconds, he finally emerged from his reverie. The distant look in his eyes disappeared, replaced by his usual composed expression. This time, however, his demeanour became noticeably more serious as he turned towards the group.

"Anyways, I didn’t bring you here to talk about the Scarlet Canopy or the Crimson Forest. So, let’s move on to the main reason I brought you here..."