We started walking again after taking a short rest. With our stomachs a little less empty, our steps felt lighter, and our hearts, a bit more at ease. But the farther we went, the atmosphere gradually shifted.
The trees lining the path grew denser, their branches stretching out like thin, bony arms trying to block our way. The warm sunlight that once accompanied us now barely pierced through the thick canopy above. A thin, white mist began to cling to the ground, making the air feel colder and damper.
"This... is the Orland Valley, right?" Elfea whispered quietly.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah... just look at the ground. This valley has its own signature—it's always foggy, even on clear days."
My eyes swept the surroundings. The once lush, green bushes had started to yellow, and the usual chorus of birds had faded into a strange silence. It was as if the entire forest was holding its breath.
"Why does this place... feel so eerily quiet?" I muttered, barely audible.
Suddenly, the narrow path we were following widened on its own. Without any warning, the scenery before us changed drastically.
"W-what's going on...?" My voice trembled, unable to hide the unease creeping into me.
Before us lay rolling hills and towering mountains, standing mute behind a curtain of mist.
The landscape that appeared so abruptly felt alien, as though we had stepped into another world entirely. The low-hanging fog blurred the line between earth and sky, while the silhouettes of hills and peaks loomed like ancient, slumbering giants.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry despite the dampness in the air. "This... is strange," I whispered, almost as if afraid to break the heavy silence.
Elfea clutched my sleeve, her grip tighter than usual. "This path... wasn't supposed to lead to an open area like this, was it? The map I read didn't show a valley this wide," she said, unable to hide the worry in her voice.
Before entering Orland Valley, Elfea and I had double-checked the map, making sure we wouldn't lose our way inside.
I nodded slowly, still staring at the unfamiliar landscape ahead. "I feel it too... It's like... we've been diverted."
I stepped forward carefully, following the path that had suddenly become wide and irregular. Rocks were scattered everywhere—some covered in moss, others looking freshly toppled from the cliffs above. In the distance, a faint sound echoed—like whispers... or perhaps, a muffled song drifting through the mist?
"Do you hear that?" Elfea asked, her eyes wide with anxiety.
I nodded again. "Yeah... that sound. It's like... a woman singing."
We exchanged glances. No words were needed; we both knew our steps were leading us deeper into the mystery shrouding Orland Valley. Even as dread settled into my chest, my feet continued forward... as if pulled by the voice echoing within the fog.
We walked cautiously, our steps heavy as we pushed through the thick, suffocating mist. The song grew clearer, but the closer we got, the stranger the atmosphere became—like something was horribly wrong, something that shouldn't be there.
Suddenly, our steps halted. In the middle of the mist-shrouded valley, the ground trembled slightly, followed by an eerie grinding sound like stones being crushed.
From behind the fog, a massive figure crawled forward. My eyes widened as its form became clearer—a giant scorpion, its body dark brown like wet earth, its shell gleaming with a faint copper hue under the dim light. Its pincers were as large as steel shields, moving slowly yet menacingly, while its tail curled high above, dripping greenish liquid that gave off a pungent acidic stench.
Elfea stepped back, her face pale.
That's a Scorvath—a desert scorpion. It shouldn't be in a damp place like this. What is it doing here?
I clenched my jaw, gripping my backpack tightly. "This valley is full of mysteries. Seems like... it's not just a home for fog, but for things that shouldn't exist."
The giant scorpion let out a grating sound, like a rusty laugh from a throat filled with sand. Its tail swayed slowly toward us, and from the darkness of the mist, its small, black eyes gleamed coldly—watching us like prey that had wandered into its den.
Elfea took a deep breath. "Get ready, Rey... We have no choice but to fight."
She was already bracing herself, ready to unleash her Dragon Fire. But I quickly stopped her.
"Elfea! We have no choice but to run!" I shouted firmly, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
Without hesitation, Elfea nodded, her eyes reflecting understanding. She knew this wasn't the time to fight.
The Scorvath simply turned its gaze, its small black eyes following our movements as we dashed past its towering body. But we hadn't gotten far when the grinding sound returned—the Scorvath was giving chase, its movements alarmingly fast for its enormous size.
I glanced back, my heart leaping into my throat. "Ahhhh! It's... it's catching up!" I screamed, my breath ragged, panic surging through me.
Elfea was still behind me, her face tense and dripping with sweat. Seeing her falling behind made me decide instantly.
"Elfea! Hurry, get ahead of me! Take the lead!" I shouted, glancing back at her.
Without wasting a second, Elfea accelerated, swiftly overtaking me, her feet barely touching the damp ground with incredible speed.
I bit my lip, forcing my legs to keep running, even as my body protested. The Scorvath hissed behind us, its tail lashing through the air with a terrifying sound that kept getting closer.
I ran with all my might, my breath heavy, but the Scorvath's guttural growl gave me no choice but to push my body beyond its limits. The thick fog and slippery ground made every step torture.
Ahead, Elfea had taken the lead, running far faster than me. I could see her long hair trailing behind as she looked back and shouted, "Rey! If you keep running that slow, I might just leave you behind!"
"Not funny, Elfea!" I groaned in frustration. "Do you think I'm running through a flower garden? That thing is practically sniffing my butt!"
Somehow, even in the midst of the chaos, Elfea managed a small chuckle. "You're slower than a grandma with a cane!"
"I'm serious, Elfea! Don't tease me now!" I yelled in frustration, though part of me was relieved she could still joke around.
But at that moment, the Scorvath let out a sharp hiss, its tail slashing the air, almost striking us. Its acidic liquid sizzled ominously as it hit the ground. I leapt aside, nearly losing my balance, and landed on something soft.
I let out a small shriek when I realized I had landed right on top of Elfea, who had fallen first.
"Reyyy! You think I'm a mattress?!" Elfea protested, her face flushing with anger as she shoved me off.
"I didn't mean to! Don't blame me if you run like a drunk rabbit!" I retorted in a panic, trying to get back on my feet.
Elfea smacked my arm but quickly pulled me up, and we resumed running, this time a little faster... perhaps out of embarrassment, or maybe out of the realization that the Scorvath was just seconds away from devouring us whole.
After what felt like an eternity, we spotted a narrow crevice in the cliffside. Without thinking, I grabbed Elfea's hand.
"Over there! Quick, into that crack!" I shouted.
We both dove in, our bodies almost getting stuck between the tight stones. Behind us, the Scorvath roared in frustration, its massive body too large to follow us into the narrow gap.
I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, my breath nearly gone.
"Hah... we're... alive..." I muttered bitterly, forcing a laugh.
Elfea glared at me, then gave me a wry smile. "Next time... I'd rather be eaten by a monster... than have to run with you, Rey..."
We both chuckled quietly amidst the lingering tension, though our breaths were still ragged, and my knees could barely hold me up anymore.
"At least... we can say we escaped... in the most embarrassing way possible," I grinned.
Elfea elbowed me in the side. "Shut up, Rey. That's our little secret."