She knew how capable Zora was. Even the deputy principals had been cured by her hands. Soone like her couldn’t possibly fall so easily.
Alaric Von Seraph’s eyes darkened, waves churning beneath his calm exterior. "There may be dangers inside beyond just the miasma."
Sebastian and Miel were equally grave. Zora and Prince Kael were the students they valued most.
Just as despair settled over everyone like a heavy weight, a sudden sound echoed from within the suffocating fog.
The next mont, a blazing crimson light shot up into the sky.
Every head snapped upward.
The instant Reesa and the others saw that red glow, hope burst through the gloom, and smiles blood across their faces.
It was for no other reason than this crimson light being the academy’s signal flare.
Reesa’s eyes lit up instantly, brilliance bursting forth as she couldn’t help cheering, "I knew it! With Zora there, nothing could go wrong!"
"Exactly. Thank goodness they’re safe." Baldwin laughed out loud, the tension finally draining from his shoulders.
The lingering redness in Raphael’s eyes slowly faded, returning to their usual calm hue. A faint, relieved smile curved his eyes.
"Thankfully..."
He murmured the word under his breath.
Though he already knew there was no longer any possibility between himself and Zora, he still hoped, selfishly, to see her now and then. The thought of her vanishing forever from his sight had made his chest tighten to the point of suffocation.
Alaric Von Seraph remained silent, but a trace of ease quietly slipped into his cold gaze.
"It’s good that they’re safe."
Sebastian also let out a long breath. As an instructor, allowing students to take such a risk had weighed heavily on him. Now that he knew the two were unhard, the guilt in his heart eased considerably.
"Since Zora has sent the signal, should we head in imdiately?" Reesa asked eagerly.
She had already been staring at the white suffocating miasma for far too long. Now that crossing it was finally possible, she could hardly wait.
"Let’s move." Miel smiled and nodded.
Around them, the surrounding spirit warriors were utterly stunned by the sudden flare of red light.
So many people had tried to enter before, yet not a single one had ever co back out. Who would have thought that Zora and Prince Kael would not only survive, but even release a signal?
Did that an... they truly had a way to counter the suffocating miasma?
The mont that thought surfaced, countless eyes lit up with greedy brilliance. Gazes locked onto Reesa and the others like hungry beasts spotting prey.
Sebastian and Miel imdiately sensed danger. What everyone wanted now was obvious. The detoxification potion.
No matter how strong they were, facing such numbers head-on would be impossible.
"Move! Now!" Sebastian shouted sharply.
The urgency in his voice jolted everyone into action. Without hesitation, they sprinted toward the suffocating miasma.
To others, the white fog was a death sentence. To them, it was salvation.
Once inside, no one else would dare follow.
"Stop them!"
Soone yelled, and in an instant, the surrounding spirit warriors surged forward with reddened eyes.
Chaos erupted at once.
Reesa and the others pushed their speed to the limit, charging straight toward the miasma without looking back. Sebastian and Miel stayed at the rear, blocking attacks and buying precious seconds.
Clang!
The sound of tal colliding rang out.
At last, Reesa and the others plunged into the suffocating fog.
The dense white miasma swallowed everything instantly. Visibility dropped to nothing. Even standing shoulder to shoulder, they could no longer see one another.
"The instructors haven’t co in yet," Sylvandria said anxiously, her voice tight with worry. "Will they be alright?"
Everyone’s expressions shifted slightly. Instinctively, they turned their heads, ready to rush back and help the two instructors.
"There’s no need to panic," Alaric Von Seraph spoke first, his voice steady and unhurried. The frost in his features carried a calm certainty. "Both instructors are strong. They won’t have any problems."
They had already entered the suffocating miasma. Alaric Von Seraph trusted that Sebastian and Miel had the ability to withdraw safely on their own.
More importantly, every spirit warrior present now had to focus on surviving within the miasma itself. Charging back out rashly would only invite greater danger.
Hearing his words, everyone gradually settled down. among them all, Alaric Von Seraph had the richest combat experience, and his judgnt had always been reliable.
Indeed, with their current strength, rushing out would likely hinder rather than help.
Just as everyone waited with bated breath, two familiar figures broke through the fog.
Sebastian and Miel strode in, their auras steady.
"Are you all alright?" Sebastian asked loudly.
"We’re fine!" Sylvandria answered at once, concern plain in her voice. "Instructor, how about you?"
Miel waved his hand casually. "Since everyone’s safe, let’s head deeper."
*
anwhile, after Zora and Prince Kael entered the Forest, she noticed sothing peculiar.
From beginning to end, Prince Kael showed not the slightest hesitation. It was as though he hadn’t stepped into a deadly, poison-filled forest at all, but was rely strolling through his own backyard.
"Darling," Prince Kael said with a low chuckle, his voice tinged with unmistakable delight, "this is the first ti you’ve taken your husband’s hand so willingly."
Zora’s cheeks ward instantly. At a ti like this, shouldn’t he be worrying about their lives? How had his attention wandered to sothing like this?
She didn’t even know where she’d found the courage to grab his hand in the first place. Now that the two of them were alone, the atmosphere felt oddly... delicate.
Realizing this, Zora instinctively tried to withdraw her hand.
But Prince Kael was quicker.
His fingers tightened over hers, firm and unyielding, leaving her no chance to escape.
"Since you’ve taken my hand," he said softly, eyes deep and intent, "you don’t get to let go."
She looked up at him, montarily startled, then found herself smiling.
Unlike her usual composed self, Zora simply gazed at him in silence. For so reason, being by Prince Kael’s side felt... right.
"Let’s go," she said lightly.
Prince Kael’s eyes brightened, the curve of his smile widening with genuine joy.
"Alright."
"Should I release the signal flare again?" Zora asked.
Prince Kael shook her head. "Not yet. We’ve only just entered. We should wait a little longer to be certain the effects are stable."
Zora stared at him for a couple of seconds and then nodded in agreent. "YI guess you’re right. Let’s move ahead first."
As they ventured deeper, Zora gradually realized just how vast the suffocating forest truly was. It stretched far beyond what anyone outside had imagined, an enormous expanse swallowed by white haze.
They increased their speed. Aside from the suffocating miasma itself, there seed to be no imdiate threats within the forest.
Moving at full pace, the two advanced swiftly.
"Master," Shihtzu’s voice echoed in Zora’s mind, carrying a trace of excitent, "we’re getting closer to that familiar aura."
"You an... it’s at the center of this suffocating forest?" Zora asked silently.
"Yes," Shihtzu replied with certainty.
Zora’s eyes glead.
It seed they were heading straight for the heart of the mystery.
Seeing how certain Shihtzu was, Zora instinctively slowed her pace. The closer they drew to the center, the more cautious they needed to be.
After all, no one knew what lay ahead. It was entirely possible that the mont they stepped inside, a powerful beast would strike without warning.
"Roar—!"
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