Off to Granlal

“We part ways here and march forward into the demon lands,” Safrim says to the commander of the frontline troops. “I trust you will be able to reinforce the gap left by the invasion.”

“Thanks to your intervention, we have lost minimal people and almost no resources from our garrison. We have this under control.”

We stand on the sidelines of the camp, which has been erected right next to the destruction the demon monster has wrought. I was able to bring back some of the old fortification, but most of it has been destroyed so thoroughly, it doesn’t even know what it once was when I use Appraisal on it. Apparently there is a limit to this skill after all.

It feels nostalgic to be traveling in a small group once more, even though it’s still new for me. As opposed to our first leg of the journey, we travel mostly in silence as we walk along the frontline, the demon lands on the horizon, black smoke swirling, obscuring all view into the distance. It stands like a barrier between the worlds, threatening to spill over.

I continue to practice light spells as I walk, the Starlight brighter the closer we get to the border. Poru gives me tips every now and then, but his attention is on the landscape beyond, over which dark clouds circle menacingly.

“We can never tell when they strike again,” Safrim says. “There can be days, weeks of silence, and then the demons break through the fog to attack.”

It really is like the fog of war I know from so many games, literally clouding the enemy.

“And that’s where we’re going?” I ask.

“Yes. Since visibility is low, we will follow a river. We’re traveling to reach it right now.”

“But with Yuki at our side we can brave the miasma and arrive where no one expects us,” Karina says, again so proud as if I was her prodigal son.

“That’s right. He’ll be able to produce miracles like he did on my family’s farm.”

“Nono, I told you, that was… I didn’t know what to do. It was—”

“Lady Erya’s blessing.”

It feels wrong to hear this from the mouth of a demon king follower, but that’s where I am.

“I know the way along the river well,” Karina says as we reach the top of the hill overlooking the river valley. The water sneaks through the forest, along several destroyed buildings and a bridge, then disappears into the fog. There are troops stationed in the valley and on the hilltops on either side, like lighthouses watching over the storm.

“Have you been here before?”

“There was a village near the garrison we’re visiting, named Granlal. The von Vales were relocated there after they were ousted as kings. We had many relatives still left in Granlal until the demon army invaded them and took over. I traveled along this river as a child many times.”

“Did they manage to escape?” I ask.

“Some of them. Some stayed to fight. Most of them did, actually. They wanted to die for their home rather than hide where there is no more room for them to live.”

I stare at the darkness beyond. It hadn’t looked as menacing from the air, but down here it feels like an insurmountable obstacle.

“Won’t we attract the demons when we enter there?” I ask. “Blessed and everything?”

“Likely. But there are almost no counter attacks from our side anymore, so they won’t expect us.”

“Well, then, I suppose nothing can go wrong,” I say.

“That’s the spirit,” Safrim says and once more slaps my back so hard I almost fall over.

——

The way down the hillside isn’t narrow, but it is winding and my legs hurt when we reach the bottom. We are welcomed by several guards, and after Safrim explains the situation to them, we are escorted to the camp at the river. It feels like being at the bottom of a large dam, with the miasma looming as a wall above everything. It doesn’t spill over, like being held behind a giant, invisible wall. The sun is slowly sinking behind the hills and only the top parts of the hill and the fog are still illuminated, casting us in a deep shadow.

We don’t stay for long. Time is racing with the attack that happened. I nod at Safrim and put my hands together. I hope Erya is watching us at this moment and has enough power left to protect us. With all I have in me, I imagine the blessing encompassing us all. There is a light around me, which spreads slowly across the whole party.

“Blessings used to be effective for weeks and months,” Safrim says as he watches the light roll over him. “Are even the gods tired?”

“I have it on good authority that they are,” I reply.

“That’s blasphemy,” Poru says, but he smiles while he does it.

“Shall we?”

We all clutch our things a bit closer as we pass through the barrier into the shadows. It’s as if night has fallen, a sudden solar eclipse racing over us, dipping us into inky darkness. Poru casts Starlight, which illuminates the path without blinding us.

Even though the blessing protects us from the worst effects of the miasma, I can still feel a strange scratching in my throat and burning in my eyes. I try not to rub them as we go. No wonder they are so reluctant to attack back into the demon lands. I imagine my blessing running out while I’m deep into this poisonous fog and shudder. The darkness is worse than a moonless night. It feels claustrophobic and scary. It’s like I’m in the middle of a horror game.

“You volunteered for this?” I ask.

“I didn’t,” Safrim immediately replies.

“Right.”

“I am the Light’s Champion. I live to bring light to this darkness. I have decided to walk this path and I will walk it to the end.”

As Poru speaks, the light in his hand flares up as a testament to his determination. I wish I was as brave.

“I volunteered for my father. I can’t let him shoulder all the responsibility for Atol himself,” Karina explains. “If I can lighten his burden even a little, I will do it.”

I remember the man, who was so reluctant to let Karina leave. It’s only natural that such a kindhearted mayor, who is loved by his citizens, will inspire such a brilliant daughter, but I’m still impressed.

“I am here to support my family,” Nono adds.

And to spy on me…

Safrim clears his throat. “I am thankful you chose me to accompany you. I have long thought about returning to the front, but I couldn’t abandon the city. You made the decision for me and I am glad I can help you.”

“Ah! Why are you all such good people?” I lament. “You make me look like a fool.”

Poru chuckles and even Nono laughs.

“It takes a few hours along this road to reach a former outpost. If we’re lucky, the underground hasn’t been touched and we can rest there,” Safrim says.

“It’s still morning! We can make more ground than that, surely?”

“It’s the demon lands, Yuki. Even protected by Lady Erya’s blessing, walking here is much more tiring than outside the miasma. We’re lucky if we make it to the outpost without trouble.”

Peace doesn’t last long. Only half an hour into our journey though the fog, we hear a growl coming from up ahead. The visibility is sometimes strangely alright, sometimes almost zero, and at the moment we can see as far as the river, with its boulder and lush vegetation. One thing that surprised me is that plants are thriving in this environment. Infrastructure may be damaged, but the vegetation is abundant. I imagined the world below the smog to be a dead wasteland, but it's more like a jungle. The area looks like humans have been gone for a long time, even though Safrim assures me that this stretch had only been lost about half a year ago.

“Did you hear that?” Karina whispers.

“Yes. Be on your guard.”

Safrim draws his sword and Karina does the same. I also brandish the blade I was given, but I’m not sure how effective I will be in combat. Nono conjures up a ball of fire, ready to be thrown.

Suddenly, Gale hisses and jumps into the shadows.

“Gale!” Karina shouts and runs after him. “Gale!”

She is swallowed by the shadows as well. I hear Safrim curse. “We need to stay together here! Come back!” he yells.