227 Gray Dawn Tower

The company rode onwards, on horseback. Steadily approaching the eastern mountain pass.

Currently, they were traveling relatively close to Grey Dawn Castle. The same castle Asai had conquered back during the war. The man curiously glanced around, finding the structure to have been fully repaired. In fact, upgrades and further defensive structures had been installed. The surrounding woodlands had been cleared away, increasing their field of view.

The scouts upon the walls saluted the passing company. 

"I wonder if any of them would recognise me if I took this ring off." Asai, had kept the ring on for the entirety of the journey. He figured, rather than test the memory of the elves. He may as well travel incognito to reduce any unnecessary time waste.

The elven knights who were close enough to see his curious gaze towards the castle decided to entertain the human.

"The nobleman who was in charge of this castle died back during your kingdom's invasion." The elf's green eyes scrutinized Asai's expression, wondering whether or not he would gloat or act apologetic. However, moments after of receiving nothing. He figured the human duke had seen too much death within his lifetime to remember the faces of those he has sent into eternal slumber.

The man had read the short reports, Duke Trichia, granted peerage due to combat prowess and military achievements.

"I must thank you humans for killing that bastard though. He was scum through and through, hence why he was positioned so far away from the capital. Rumours had it, he enjoyed raping the countryside women, leaving his many bastard children to be raised alone."

Asai began to wonder where his story was even going. "At first he tried to make me feel guilt, and now he's trying to make me feel morally superior by killing a supposed evil person?"

Another elf entered the discussion, seemingly entertained. The journey had been long, any old story would be better than traveling in continued silence.

"One of my cousins actually worked in the temples within his territory. She would tell me rumours about how his offspring would have jet black hair and eyes. Which as you may have noticed, is a rare colour to have within Via Marea. And because of that, everyone thought of his children as a dark omen, or bad luck."

Asai's eyes met his. "A-Ah! Duke Trichia, you are a human. So your black hair signifies nothing within our lands. And look! The fact that Goddess Marea's blessing gives you white hair can only mean that you have the makings of a saint!" The elf, afraid to have insulted Queen Rima's private guests quickly explained.

Whist the human kingdoms mostly sported hair colours of different shades of blonde to brown, and rarely black. Believing golden haired babies to be blessed and chosen by Goddess Loha.

The Elves had numerous more deviations in pigmentation. Brown, blonde, white, pink and red. Black hair for an elf was extremely rare. In fact, it was a colour trait more commonly seen in Ignis, the kingdom of the dark elves. The elves traditionally believed people with white or silver hair to be blessed and favoured by Goddess Marea, signifying their purity.

Asai's gaze shot forward. His mind wandered back into the great hall of Gray Tower Castle. The many depictions and work of arts, of the many dragons of the lands, and leviathan.

"That archer back then, was that her father?"

...

Approaching the boundary, the humans gazed into the blackened fog, the sheer size of it that blocked off the entire mountain pass. Tendrils of purple and violet occasionally swimming through. Strange crackling and screeching noises would sporadically sound, causing cold-shivers to crawl and slither up the company's spines.

"Duke Trichia, this is as far as we can take you. We will return to our earlier fortifications and defences. If you have any requirements, please simply show them the insignia on the ring Her Majesty had bestowed upon you. It will signify you as her personal guest, and you will be afforded assistance as the human ambassador."

The elves quickly saluted and departed. Desiring to get away from the potent poison that crippled their limbs and organs.

Asai inspected the poison fog for minutes. Many questions popped up unanswered.

"If the dark elves could conjure up such a powerful and large amount of poison, that only affected their enemies. Why wouldn't they further invade and continue conjuring more of this shit up everywhere?" Asai, uncharacteristically spoke his thoughts out loud.

Rosemi De Lumix pointed up towards the heavens.

"Perhaps the dark elves just as the elves and humans do, have their own sovereign goddess. If Goddess Marea isn't permitting the fog to travel into her lands, then it would make sense."

"Actually, that would make sense. I can already imagine Marea becoming incredibly bored watching a purple fog wipe her children out. If anything, she'd want a grand war to watch for entertainment at the very least..." As such thoughts were borderline blasphemy. He decided not to voice such a opinion.

After thinking a little more. Rosemi added,

"Marea's blessings and powers are stronger the closest she is to her own sovereign capital. Thus, we should expect this poison cloud to become increasingly potent the closer we get to Ignis' capital, Montt."

"So, the defenders will always have the home ground advantage?"

Rosemi nodded in response. Her hand reached outwards.

"Wait!" Marvin stepped forward. "Please allow me, my lady." "This is it! I get to prove my bravery in front of the ladies and the duke!" Marvin quickly rolled up his sleeves, and steadily stretched his arm out. Plunging it into the oddly coloured fog. The black mist converged around his limbs, sensing the intruder. The purple-violet tendrils swarmed like insects towards him.

His arm vibrated in nervousness, desperately tempted to pull it back out to relative safety. However, after mustering his courage and balls of steel. He realised nothing was happening. He glanced back towards the others.

Asai curious to test something. Vaulted

[ANNIHILATION] 

The mist before the mist seperated a little. The mist seemingly perishing and expiring. Before large amounts of mass filled up the gaps.

Asai raised an eyebrow. After funneling great amounts of mana into his blade.

[DECIMATE: HALF MOON] !

The skill bloomed a deadly edge, slaughtering the many tendrils. For two seconds, the path ahead revealed itself, before the colossal mass slammed back down like a giant body of water. Refilling the gaps.

"Did you guys see what I think I saw?" Asked Lucas.

"Skeletons." Answered Mimi.

"And undead." Added Lucy.

"Fucking lots of them at that. All hiding within this damn fog."