From the moment I was chosen by the holy relic

They rode on, heading southwest towards Diarant, where the terrain was gently undulating, but the scenery became increasingly bleak each day.

Over the course of several days, Eric and Leah passed through several shattered villages. These small hamlets, once home to farmers, blacksmiths, and weavers, were now nothing but scorched timbers and bloodstains. Whenever they stopped to inquire, the surviving villagers would recount the same nightmare with trembling voices: one night, a group of people dressed in black stormed into the village and took away everyone with magical powers, whether their power was enough to light a lamp or merely the faint magical abilities detected in the children.

"They said they were doing business for Lord Kadir," an old man said softly, his eyes filled with tears as he gazed at the empty eaves. "None of them have ever come back."

Eric bent down and took the old man's calloused hand in his.

"I know where they went, and I know they're still alive." His voice was deep and strong. "Rest assured, we have rescued them and they are being escorted back to the capital by the kingdom's soldiers. They will be back with you soon."

The old man raised his cloudy eyes, stared at him for a long time, and then slowly nodded. However, Eric felt no relief. He knew that for many villages, it wasn't just about the kidnapped mage, but also about the fear of the future.

They had already seen five such villages along the way.

The closer you get to Diarant, the gentler the slopes become, and the more lush the vegetation grows. The original dirt road has been swallowed up by the grass and trees, leaving only a sporadic forest path.

Ancient trees, towering like stone pillars, stood amidst the dense forest, their intertwined branches blocking out the sunlight. A thick fog swirled through the woods, like invisible water snakes gliding through the air, carrying a dampness and a subtle, fishy smell. Eric knew this was the legendary Fog-Sleeping Forest, a forbidden zone avoided by travelers during the transition from summer to autumn when the miasma was at its strongest.

"The miasma is thicker than I thought." Eric slowed his horse and looked around at the white mist in the forest, his tone grave.

"But it won't harm us." Lia raised her hand, the pendant between her fingers glowing faintly—the Tear of Purity, a gift from King Iser. Its shimmering light rippled through the air, dispersing the mist.

"The purified area is still there," she said calmly, "but we can't go too fast; it's dangerous to go beyond the designated area."

"Okay." Eric nodded. He was already exhausted, but he still forced himself to stay awake. He knew that if they could get through this forest, they could save at least three days, and every day was precious at this moment.

Even with the protection of the Tear of Purity, the long journey and the oppressive miasma had left the two exhausted, both physically and mentally. Night quietly fell, the fog grew even darker, and the forest was deserted of birds and beasts, deathly silent like a graveyard. Eric finally reined in his mount and looked at a relatively flat clearing.

"Let's rest here tonight."

"it is good."

They pitched a makeshift tent and cleared a spot for a campfire. Eric tried to look around for prey, but couldn't find even a squirrel. It was as if only the mist and the two of them existed in the forest.

"The animals here sensed something was wrong long ago and ran away faster than people," he muttered as he returned.

"Luckily, I brought some dry rations." Leah took out a small bag of confit jerky and a few dried fruit biscuits. "Although the taste is so-so, it's better than chewing tree bark."

"It looks like cured venison from the outskirts of Iser," Eric said with a laugh as he stirred the fire. "When I took Erin to Orion, we camped by the creek for a night, and I hunted a rabbit that day. She even praised my cooking."

"Oh? Is it really that delicious? I'd like to try your cooking too." Leah raised her eyebrows.

"It's a pity we can't see a single animal around here." Eric grinned, but his eyes were somewhat unfocused. He stared at the leaping flames, his expression inexplicably melancholic.

"You miss her," Leah said softly, without questioning.

"Hmm." He didn't deny it, but lowered his eyes. "Although she does things strangely and likes to be alone, she actually has a lot of things hidden in her heart, and every time we part, she always feels a kind of unease that she can't say."

Leah didn't reply, but simply took a small bite of her biscuit and sat down beside him. The firelight cast a gentle glow on her silhouette, and the mist receded beyond the circle of fire, making this small camp seem like the only place of clarity in the world.

"Eric," she suddenly whispered.

"Um?"

"Aren't you afraid? The things you've faced along the way are becoming increasingly beyond your control."

Eric was silent for a moment, then slowly replied, "I was afraid. But what good was being afraid? We've come this far, there's no turning back, and those days are over."

He turned to look at her, his eyes resolute.

"Besides, I'm not alone. You and Eileen are both here, so I'm not lonely."

Leah gazed at him quietly, a moment of tenderness in her eyes, and then whispered, "Although the time I spent with you two was dangerous, I felt very happy. I've only ever experienced this feeling with the Morning Star Expedition."

The firelight flickered slowly, the firewood crackled softly, the night grew deeper, and the wind ceased.

They didn't speak again, but sat side by side in silence.

The flickering flames seemed to leave ripples in the silent air. Forest mist drifted gently in the distance, lingering like a ghost. The night was deep, the stars obscured by the thick fog, only the embers casting a warm glow before them.

Eric leaned against the wall in his corner of the camp and suddenly turned to look at the quiet figure beside him.

He said softly, "Lia, I suddenly realized that I have told you a lot about myself, even why I went down this path, but I know very little about you."

Lia did not respond immediately. She just stared at the campfire in a daze. After a long while, she smiled faintly, as if a piece of firewood in the firelight had exploded, bringing her back to her senses.

"Are you asking me where I come from and why I joined 'Morning Star'?"

"Yes." Eric looked at her earnestly. "You've been with me all this way, helping me countless times. I want to know what kind of story has shaped you into who you are today."

Lia nodded quietly, raised her head slightly, and looked past the fire into the depths of the misty forest.

"I come from the north of Iser, a place called Luzelo." Her voice rose slowly, like ancient spring water dripping onto a stone slab in the night. "It is a land where plateaus and lakes intertwine, where the seasons are cold and the land is barren. But my family has been rooted there for generations, and people call us the Chemae Clan."

"Chemai..." Eric murmured softly.

"Because our race primarily uses pure healing magic," Lia nodded. "We are not good at fighting or attacking. All our heritage is focused on techniques for detoxifying, repairing the body, and calming the mind. You could say that our talent is born to save lives, yet we are never feared, but rather looked down upon."

She lowered her eyes, her expression calm, yet tinged with melancholy.

"For many generations, our family has not been a prominent clan in Iser, and we have been virtually unknown outside the court. Several times, when foreign enemies invaded, no one thought to protect us, even though we had been healing them for years. The elders of our family often say that the tragedy of healers is not that they lack power, but that their power is always taken for granted."

Eric didn't interrupt, but listened quietly, his eyes filled with contemplation and respect.

"So," Leah continued, "when I graduated from the family academy, the elders spoke to me personally. They said that people like us can no longer stay confined to one place. We must go out, walk with the strong, make friends with various countries, even if it means aligning ourselves with power, to fight for breathing space for our people."

"He sounds like," Eric said softly, "a pragmatic man."

"He was also a scarred old man," Lia said calmly. "Back then, I was young and arrogant, thinking I had a lot of talent, so I packed my bags, took the talismans and spellbooks given to me by my family, and left Luzerlo."

The firelight flickered, and her voice rose and fell slightly.

"Those days were the hardest of my life. The city was never kind to a lone female mage like me. I had no money, no support, no reputation, and not even a place to stand. I earned food and lodging by doing odd jobs and healing people in the market to treat sores and cleanse poison. Several times I even almost froze and starved to death on the street."

She smiled, as if mocking her past self, or perhaps recalling a bittersweet yet resolute feeling.

"Once, I passed through a small town on a cliff on the southern border of the mountains. That night, a beast tide broke out. Monsters rushed into the town from the forest and burned down most of the village. In order to save people, I disregarded the fact that my magic power was exhausted and was eventually trapped in a burning wooden house."

Eric frowned slightly: "You're going to fight the beast horde all by yourself?"

"Heh," Lia chuckled softly, "I didn't fight back, I just stalled for time. Later, a group of adventurers came and rescued me; they were called the Morning Star Expedition."

Her voice paused, and her eyes softened: "That night, I saw Kahn for the first time. He was wearing half-armor, covered in blood, and carried me out of the fire, cursing me as stupid as a brainless hawk while feeding me water."

Eric chuckled softly, as if he could see that scene as well.

"I stayed in Dawnstar after that. They weren't the strongest or the most famous, but they were like a real family." She sighed softly. "They didn't look down on me just because I was a little mage who only knew how to heal. Kahn always stood behind him, and Reg would guide me when I stayed up all night making potions. We ventured through the Misty Sea together, crossed the Old Royal Tomb, pitched a tent on Coldmoon Peak, and sang songs from our homeland under the moonlight."

Eric didn't speak, but he clenched his fists. He knew the ultimate fate of Morning Star. He had witnessed firsthand the grief that destruction brought to Leah.

"Later," Leah said softly, "you know. I couldn't save them. I hated my own powerlessness and even thought about leaving this continent alone. But then I realized that you and Eileen are reliable partners."

She turned to look at Eric, her expression not excited, but rather calm.