Raphael wasted no time. He slipped into the crowd ahead to inquire more directly, while Zora and the others found a nearby spot to rest and wait. It was obvious that whatever was happening inside the miasma could not be understood in mere moments.
Not long after, Raphael returned.
From his account, everyone gained a clearer picture of the situation.
Several groups had arrived at the Suffocating Forest days ago, only to discover that the suffocating miasma was slowly expanding outward. Each day, its coverage grew larger.
Worse still, monstrous roars could occasionally be heard from deep within. The sounds were unfamiliar and chilling, so much so that even veteran mercenaries who had roamed the White Mountains for decades could not identify the creatures responsible.
Some spirit warriors, emboldened by greed or confidence, had ventured inside. None had returned. As time passed, silence became the only answer, and most people had quietly accepted the worst outcome.
