For several days, the group of four was now in the parched region on the road and are quite the one or the other creature ran across the way. At some point, however, the weather became quite bad - fog formed and they could hardly see further than three meters. They had to be careful not to get lost, while at the same time try to make out the mountains through the curtain.

Philippa and Ben led the group, while Aaron and Williams silently followed them. Since the night at the camp, they both wondered where Cale got all the information about the creatures. They agreed that the mage must have been too young to have written the Chronicles, but they didn't know the exact date when they began circulating either. Aaron, however, insisted that Cale had to be the creator. He had supposedly seen two other unpublished originals, and the drawing in the books nearly coincided with Cale's sketches. They didn't really have an answer to the question, however, and they couldn't simply ask the person involved either.

Aaron and Williams had been talking more and more over the last few days, much to the surprise of the others. At a certain point, they had even started to be on a first-name basis. Their topics changed constantly, from magic to politics, it was all there. The High-Magician had also mentioned to him that he often gave advice to the Eldest on foreign policy issues, which was due to his knowledge. Much like Grischa who was the one who gifted the world with his inventions or like Cale shared his knowledge of creatures, Aaron made sure the cities coexisted peacefully.

"This isn't going to work", Ben spoke up and stopped. "We've been walking around here for hours. I think we should take a break and wait for the fog to lift."

"Ben's right, I'm starting to have trouble getting my bearings and I can't really see the mountain anymore either", Philippa explained, turning to the others.

"I had that thought as well. Well, let's find a nice spot and wait", Aaron replied, while Williams nodded in agreement.

Together, the four walked to an open area and took a seat on it without greatly spreading out their belongings. Williams, much like Ben, lay down with his back on the ground to rest a bit. They had been walking quite a bit, after all, Aaron couldn't keep wasting his mana and flying with everyone because that would eventually lead to exhaustion. But right here it was important that he conserve his strength, because the High-Magician was the most important link in their group. An unspoken fact that they were all aware of, but if the fog didn't subside soon, they would likely have to fall back on Aaron's abilities.

The group sat quietly in a circle for a good half hour until Williams felt a wave of mana slowly approaching them. He jerked upright and the others seemed to notice the event as well. Immediately, the three Anuxers were on their feet as the High-Magician also rose, signaling them to stay behind. Quietly, he took a few steps in the direction of the mana source, and William could feel that Aaron was already releasing mana, which made him nervous.

"That's not human, is it? Feels different", Williams remarked quietly and received nods of agreement from Ben. Spellbound, everyone stared in the direction of the source, but thanks to the fog, they couldn't really see anything. Williams could only feel the mana masses spreading out right in front of Aaron, but even he couldn't see the actual source. Even Philippa was having trouble, and that despite having the best eyes of anyone present.

Slowly, the mana enveloped Aaron's body before he took a step to the side and skeptically observed the spot where a creature was supposed to be. To everyone's amazement, the mana wave simply floated a bit further, as if carried by wind.

"Ghosts?", Philippa interjected, as everyone followed the invisible movement. But in the next moment it seemed to change direction, making a wide arc and slowly coming back toward them. "Am I mistaken or is this thing getting bigger?"

Williams empathized similarly to Philippa. It was accumulating more mana and spreading a good two meters in both directions that he felt like there was a wall in front of him. But at the same time, the mana was very slow and cautious, almost as if it was just the wind. Aaron approached the group, but in the next moment he buckled with one foot and covered his mouth. Surprised, the three Anuxers turned to him.

"Aaron!", exclaimed Williams quietly, walking briskly toward the man who was kneeling on the ground a few feet from them. The others followed him as well, but each feeling mass spread out and began to encircle the group.

"What is that?", voiced Philippa with concern.

"Are you all right, High-Magician Thopas?", Ben replied as he arrived next to Aaron and knelt by him. Williams, on the other hand, looked around nervously. He was frightened by the whole situation and tried to remember what creature might be responsible. But for the life of him, he didn't remember ever hearing anything like that, not even from Cale himself.

"Don't... inhale", Aaron spoke up before rolling his eyes and collapsing in front of everyone. Reflexively, Ben caught the tall, slender man, preventing the High-Magician from hitting his head. For a moment, none of the three moved before they exchanged horrified glances. Simultaneously, they all raised their hands in front of their mouths, not daring to breathe as they realized what had happened. The strange mana, on the other hand, had spread completely around them. Ben lifted the unconscious man in his arms and with only a nod of his head indicated that they should flee. Immediately, the three set off at a sprint, rushing haphazardly in one direction. As they stepped through the invisible mana wall, they breathed a sigh of relief, but seconds later the masses followed them.

"What in the three gods is that? Does that cause a creature?", Philippa shouted as she nervously looked to the back. But if that wasn't enough, the three suddenly sensed a new source of mana directly in front of them, just like the invisible curtain that was following them. Ben made a 90 degree turn and fled to the right, followed by Philippa and William.

"Those are multiple creatures. They're probably trying to surround us and...", Ben summarized, but got no further. A third source appeared directly in front of them, as if it had been waiting for them. Jerking to a stop, William, Philippa and Ben came to an absolute halt.

"What now? Should we run back?", Philippa asked nervously as she searched for answers in the faces of the others.

"It's no use", Ben replied, his voice sounding similarly concerned as he tightened his grip around Aaron's body. If the High-Magician had been responsive, they could have flown away. As it was, they were trapped in the Beside and on top of that, having to protect the unconscious High-Magician. Why were they so unlucky?

"Through there, then?", Philippa replied.

"We don't know how many there are. We could be heading straight for their nest... I don't know about you guys, but I can't hold my breath that long", Ben announced, slightly mocking. Now Williams was panicky, too. They couldn't see where they were running. However, they had to do something to keep the mana from catching up with them, but running blindly could be fatal. A mage or a swordmaster who could use wind magic would be helpful, exactly what Cale would fulfill.

"Will? What do we do?"

Philippa's question was what broke William out of his stupor. He had unintentionally become the leader of the group. He had noticed this earlier and Cale had pointed it out to him as well, but he didn't really realize it until he was in the arena. Everyone relied on his instructions and followed him, without argument. But what should they do? What would Cale do in such a situation? Go forward? Back? Risk the attempt?

No, Cale would probably fly or simply use his mana to determine where the creature was. But no one in the group was capable of such a thing. They were limited to their physical abilities, and for the first time William was annoyed that he wasn't a mage, or at least had better mana sensitivity. If they had been a little more observant, or if they had prevented Aaron from getting close to the mana, it wouldn't have come to this.

Unconsciously, he clutched his arm before staring at it the next moment.

Abruptly, William began to tremble. He had completely forgotten that he had Cale's Igrikum at his disposal. But should he resort to the barrier? Was he really able to use the Igrikum the way Cale did? He had been able to enclose an entire city with his Igrikum and repel all attacks - including magical ones. Besides, William knew that this Igrikum was also capable of blocking mana completely. Should he risk it? Would Cale allow it?

"Hold your breath", he directed loudly, before taking a deep breath and focusing on his mana flow. He began to let mana flow into his hand and could feel the Igrikum warming up and reacting instantly. He could feel his mana mixing with Cale's mana and a moment later oodles of mana spread out in his hand before a barrier suddenly appeared. First it surrounded only his hand and then surrounded his entire body before spreading to include Ben and Philippa. With visibly astonished faces they watched the spectacle, before in the next moment the mana slapped against the wall. Like a bird against a window.

Williams did not even try to hide his nervousness. He looked skeptically at the barrier and could feel the alienating mana gathering around the blockage. Many small drops gathered on the surface and only now William was sure that the mana must carry some kind of poison.

But was it working? Were they safe in the barrier or had some mana still gotten through? What should they do now? Stand still and wait? Take the risk and keep running? Locate the creature?

Philippa was the first to run out of breath. Slowly, she inhaled and exhaled a few times before looking around nervously. She raised her hand and seemed to make the air around her move a bit before she could be sure.

"I don't feel anything. Whatever that mana is, it's not getting through."

Ben also breathed a sigh of relief, confirming what the archer meant, which is why Williams also dared to breathe again. His heart was racing like crazy, so he could feel the throbbing even in his throat. Meticulously he concentrated the whole time not to drop the barrier, after all the attacker was standing not a meter away from them.

He felt completely cornered. The only thing missing now were eerie sounds that were slowly getting closer. William was aware that it couldn't stay here and above all they had to find out what exactly this creature was. After all, Aaron had inhaled it and there was a possibility that it was a deadly poison. Just the thought that a High-Magician could die in his presence made William shiver all over.

Not only the High-Magician, but Philippa and Ben as well. Maybe he should have voiced his concerns about the mist earlier after all, or they wouldn't have gone in so deep. Or at least he should have asked Aaron not to face the mana alone. Why had he been so sure that the High-Magician could handle the creature?

Aaron was not Cale.

As if someone had heard his thoughts, a low vibration registered with him, causing all eyes to fall on the communication crystal Aaron wore around his neck. At the same time, William's own crystal also began to make a little sound.