Chapter 616: An Unintentional Encounter
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Nina and Morris ambled along a serene path deep within a thick, verdant forest. Above them, the dense layers of intertwining branches and leaves allowed only slivers of sunlight to trickle through, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of light and shadow on the carpet of leaves below. Unexpectedly, a soft, mystical mist began to form, seeming to emerge from the very essence of the forest itself. As the sun’s rays tried to pierce through this gauzy veil, the entire landscape took on a surreal, dream-like hue.
A few paces ahead, an ethereal elf maiden named “Shireen” guided them through this enchanting realm. Every now and then, she would halt her steps, throwing gentle, patient glances over her shoulder to ensure her human companions were comfortably keeping pace.
Observing the unfamiliar phenomena around her, Nina whispered, her voice tinged with awe and uncertainty, “I’ve never seen the forest blanketed in fog like this before.” She then, inquisitively, called out to a distant figure not physically present with them, “Uncle Duncan, what’s your take on this?”
She paused, her face radiating intense concentration, seemingly attempting to tune into an unseen frequency. Beside her, Morris matched her rhythm, his eyes distant, clearly engrossed in trying to grasp an intangible voice.
After a short yet palpable silence, the scholarly voice of Duncan echoed within their minds, “You mean the blueprints of the Vanished’ from the Pland Shipyard archives?” A few moments lapsed as he seemed to process something silently. His voice returned, somber and thoughtful, “Those records undoubtedly exist, but accessing them through conventional methods might prove futile. I’ll speak to Vanna about this. Perhaps some of our contacts within the city-state or even the church can assist.”
As his voice ebbed away, leaving behind a contemplative silence, Nina, with a glint of curiosity in her eyes, posed a question to Morris. “Why the sudden interest in the records of the Vanished? What could Uncle Duncan possibly need them for?”
Lost in thought, Morris replied, “Perhaps the captain unearthed some secrets in the dream world inside the Vanished. But until he divulges more, we shouldn’t pry.”
His demeanor revealed a deep respect and caution he had developed for the captain during their time on the Vanished.
Morris’s gaze then shifted to the intensifying fog encroaching upon the forest’s core. A crease formed on his forehead as he remarked with evident unease, “This fog… it’s growing thicker, and there’s an unsettling aura about it.”
Nina, always the problem solver, gleamed with sudden inspiration, “How about we use sunlight to dissipate it?”
But before she could act, Morris, sensing the potential repercussions in this dreamy realm, swiftly signaled her to hold back, “Wait. Introducing such an intense force might destabilize this world.”
Caught up in their discussion, they almost failed to notice Shireen, who had come to a standstill, awaiting their next move.
Shireen had a unique and remarkable talent: no matter where she was, she always seemed acutely aware of the distance separating her from Morris and Nina. This intuitive sense triggered her to stop in her tracks whenever the duo trailed too far behind. And just as she was doing now, sometimes she’d turn with a mix of concern and inquisitiveness, urging them to hasten their pace.
“Is everything alright?” The elfin maiden’s delicate features crinkled with confusion as she glanced back at the pair who were engrossed in hushed whispers. “We really cannot afford to linger. We must reach the Silent Wall promptly, lest we get caught in the erosion phenomenon.”
Observing the dense atmosphere surrounding them, Nina responded, “The fog seems to be growing denser.” She quickened her steps, drawing nearer to Shireen, and in a curious tone asked, “Is it a usual occurrence for this area to be shrouded in such thick fog?”
Shireen momentarily paused, her gaze sweeping across the landscape. A soft smile lit her face as comprehension sparkled in her eyes. “We’re nearing our goal. The Silent Wall is close.”
Morris, ever the inquisitive scholar, probed further, “Are you suggesting that this enveloping mist is an effect of the Silent Wall? Or is this mist, in essence, a part of the Wall itself?”
Her face aglow with an almost childlike wonder, Shireen took a moment to truly admire the foggy expanse around them. “It’s truly breathtaking, isn’t it?” She sidestepped Morris’s inquiry, choosing instead to share her perspective. “From here, its vastness might seem overwhelming. But atop Atlantis, from its towering boughs and from the heavens above, one can witness the entire magnificence of this barrier.”
She continued, her voice filled with awe, “It stands sentinel, shielding our kingdom from external decay and intrusion. We haven’t reached its heart yet. Somewhere within this foggy abyss lies a radiant boundary – the very essence of the Silent Wall. We’re on the cusp; just a few moments more and we’ll be there.”
As Shireen spoke, a vitality surged within her – a stark contrast to her previously serene demeanor. Her words painted vivid images, and her excitement was palpable. Swiftly, she turned and ventured deeper into the mist, motioning for Nina and Morris to follow, her voice echoing with urgency, “Come along quickly! Safety is just ahead!”
For Nina, it was an unusual sight to see Shireen so animated. She stood momentarily transfixed, but the realization that Shireen’s silhouette was rapidly disappearing into the dense mist snapped her back to the present. She, along with Morris, hastened their steps, yet an unsettling feeling gnawed at her…
They might be too late.
In all their previous encounters with Shireen, Nina and Morris had grown accustomed to her patient demeanor. Whether it was with them or with others like Shirley and Miss Lucretia, Shireen would invariably pause to regroup whenever anyone lagged behind. However, this instance was a stark contrast. Shireen’s stride was unyielding and firm. Her pace quickened with such intent, reminiscent of a lost traveler who, after a prolonged quest, finally sights their homeland on the horizon. Or, much like a lone droplet, driven by an innate longing, swiftly returning to merge with the vast ocean.
In moments, the ethereal, elfin silhouette of Shireen dissolved into the dense, white blanket of fog without sparing a backward glance.
The suddenness of her disappearance left Nina and Morris momentarily immobilized in the middle of the enigmatic, mist-enshrouded forest. A heavy silence ensued, punctuated only by their hesitant and questioning gazes.
After what felt like an eternity, Morris finally broke the silence. He peered into the dense white abyss, the direction where Shireen had vanished, “Her mental essence dissipated right at the edge of this path, almost immediately after she disappeared from our sight.”
A flicker of anxiety passed over Nina’s face. “Are we stranded? Every direction looks identical — an endless expanse of fog and similar-looking trees. It’s disorienting.”
Morris sighed, a mix of exasperation and acceptance, “To be honest, we’ve been astray since our journey began. But in dreams, the concept of being ‘lost’ is somewhat moot. Because, isn’t it true that we’re perpetually lost in dreams?”
Nina pondered over this for a moment, appreciating the profundity of her mentor’s words. “I see what you mean,” she mused.
Pushing the philosophical thought aside, she offered a practical suggestion, “Should I attempt to ‘fly’ and scout from above? I promise to be inconspicuous.”
Morris quickly weighed the pros and cons. “It’s imperative we avoid unsettling this dream,” he advised, pointing to the path Shireen had taken. “We’ll proceed this way, trusting the trail Shireen last indicated.”
With a nod of agreement, they began navigating the fog-laden forest. Their destination was nebulous, and their path uncertain.
However, Nina held on to a beacon of hope from Shireen’s parting words: they were on the brink of reaching the Silent Wall. Beyond this veil of mist awaited a haven meticulously sculpted by Atlantis for its elven kin eons ago.
It was tantalizingly close.
As they journeyed deeper, the ambiance around them shifted. The earlier delicate dance of sunlight through the trees had now dimmed, casting faint and eerie silhouettes in the fog. The forest floor, punctuated with intermittent trails left by wildlife over the years, offered a treacherous terrain. These paths were sporadic, often forcing them to traverse ground littered with debris, making their progress slow and arduous.
The further Nina ventured the more arduous her journey seemed to become. It felt as if the forest itself was resisting their progression. The vegetation grew denser, more tangled as if every vine and bramble consciously sought to halt her steps. The atmosphere grew chilling, casting doubt over the idea of a safe sanctuary ahead. Instead, it hinted at the lurking presence of a dark, formidable entity within this dream-filled expanse.
Abruptly, Nina halted.
Amidst the swirling fog, she discerned a fleeting, shadowy figure.
A primal reaction kicked in, and a surge of power threatened to burst forth from her in the form of a scalding slap, boasting an unfathomable heat of 6000°C.
Yet, with a rapid intake of breath and a willpower she didn’t realize she possessed, she checked herself just in time.
“There was something… a movement,” Nina murmured, her voice quivering slightly from the adrenaline rush, “For a moment, I thought I was about to face a genuine threat!”
Morris cast a sidelong glance at her, observing the luminous intensity of her gaze and the residual warmth emanating from her. More than the unknown lurking in the fog, he was concerned about the formidable force she harbored – one that could, quite literally, set their world aflame.
“Could you identify it?” he asked cautiously.
She shook her head, her face a picture of confusion. “It was too fleeting. It looked tall, almost human, but… there was something off about its silhouette. It was distorted, warped almost.”
Morris mused for a moment, “Without a clear mental signal, it might just be a trick of the fog. In a realm like this, where the boundaries between illusion and reality blur, anything can manifest.”
He emphasized his next words, “We must remain vigilant, but equally crucial, we must avoid overreacting.”
With a subdued nod, Nina moved forward cautiously, eyes darting for any sign of movement.
Suddenly, a whimsical gust seemed to breathe life into the forest, parting the heavy fog and unveiling a mesmerizing scene. An ethereal barrier of light emerged, shimmering as if it were a reflection of the forest around them. Beyond this radiant shield, vague shadows hinted at something concealed.
A realization dawned upon Nina — this was it. This was the luminescent barrier of the Silent Wall that Shireen had spoken of. They had reached their destination.
Within moments, Nina and Morris found themselves gravitating towards the mesmerizing luminous barrier that beckoned them.
This resplendent boundary, intricately woven from countless beams of light, stood as a sentinel at the brink of the fog-draped kingdom. It ascended, seemingly touching the very heavens above while extending laterally as far as the eye could see. The surface of this barrier pulsated with ethereal glimmers, like a shimmering veil separating two distinct worlds and guarding the myriad mysteries concealed within.
As Nina gazed upwards, the sheer magnificence of the sight left her momentarily speechless. “It’s… otherworldly,” she finally whispered, captivated.
With a gesture from Morris, Nina stepped back, allowing him the space to investigate. Morris moved closer, a sense of reverence evident in his posture. With utmost caution, he stretched out his fingers, seeking to touch the delicate sheen of light before them.
However, what happened next was both unexpected and breathtaking.
The Silent Wall, despite its seemingly impenetrable aura and vastness, crumbled soundlessly before them. This grand, seemingly eternal expanse of light disintegrated with the fragility of a soap bubble, leaving behind a void that held both wonder and uncertainty.