~ Pending Chapter Update ~
It took an entire day to cross the 45 or so villages, the flourishing farms swaying along the way as villagers watched Ruzen’s parade moving forward.
Throughout, Ruzen never heard that loud noise again, which turned out to be just an initial scare. The parade had already traversed the entire mount and now they had to leave, gradually stepping down altitude.
What was the most surprising about this mount wasn’t the flourishing terrace farms full of blooming and fragrant herbs, neither the round huts or its occupants, but the ‘warm’ microclimate.
Ruzen didn’t know the reason, so he asked, turns out, the mount had a warm core, full of hot springs and warm streams, the warmth seeped out from cracks and crevices present in the mount, rendering the air around the mount warmer than it should have been. This effect rendered the coldness of high altitude useless, hence, the mount was only layered with snow at the very top, because below, the temperature rose in accordance to the escaping steam. Ruzen didn’t see the crevice or crack that he was informed about, but he deduced that the villages weren’t built around such cracks, since it may get dangerous to live around such extreme geographical formations.
So, despite the initial worry, Ruzen didn’t get cold. He actually had a pleasant walk.
Now, problems couldn’t stay apart from Ruzen, they had to come and bother him. That was his fate. So, as soon as Ruzen’s parade stepped down, right at the foot of the mount, a strange phenomenon occurred. Mist started to form around them, and at an unnatural rate, the surrounding air started to become heavy with strange smells. Both rotten and horrid.
“Oh it couldn’t be!” someone from the crowd raised his voice. Hence the people who were conflicted in their minds certainly gave him attention. Ruzen was also did.
“This is mist herd! I had been wondering about that loud noise since earlier, it was the mist herd’s call. When they gather, they sound out each herd and gather at their place of hunt.”
“B-But aren’t they part of the southern terrain? Why are they at the Northern?”
Whispers and murmurs followed as the followers became uneasy.
“No wonder no one mentioned Mist heard, they don’t even belong here,” a woman in the group recalled, her voice trembling.
“Someone is really trying to disrupt Keeper’s trail, how…”
Ruzen couldn’t hear all of it since his focus snapped towards a strange sight ahead. The herbal plant sitting at the crook of his neck shivered.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Right ahead, a cloudy form of a three-legged beast stood, it had no eyes, no nose, no face, just a silhouette that seemed to flicker and shimmer, curling like a shifty dense mass. The form was like an accumulation of mist, tightly packed, yet unrestrained. And then that 12 feet tall beast suddenly morphed away into the mist.
What made Ruzen’s steps falter wasn’t even that, but the low blood curling groan floating in the mist.
As Ruzen walked, his feet started to disappear in the mist, the mist getting so thick and dense that he couldn’t even see his hand. It was really troublesome.
Having never walked through such thick mist, Ruzen was starting to feel suffocation. His eyes were seeing things and his senses were turning dumber the more he walked.
He could no longer see or hear anyone around him, but only the mist and the occasional beastly figures. He didn’t know much about them, but it definitely didn’t sound anything good.
He could sense danger, but what could he do about it, he was handicapped currently.
Another loud groan went past his ear as Ruzen felt goose bumps appearing on his skin. It was really spooky.
Ruzen thought that he might have to use his powers for defense, but turns out… he eventually walked out of the mist.
Pausing in thought, Ruzen looked behind at the wall of mist, his feet still walking towards the plain steppes ahead, yet his attention was on the mist.
He just got out… just like that? But where were others??
At first Ruzen thought the others would come out safely just like him, but he was left horrified when he saw them coming out with various injuries, even the band in the parade had to stop playing their instruments because they looked injured. There were scratch marks, and no one else other than Ruzen came out unharmed.
When his followers saw that Ruzen was unharmed, instead of questioning him, they actually looked relieved.
“Keeper is safe, that’s good.”
“I agree, it only means he is well protected…”
“But I am still wondering about the mist herd…”
“…me too.”
Ruzen turned to resume his walk since he wasn’t allowed to falter, but he really wanted to ask a few things. Although he didn’t think the timing was appropriate, he did feel it was better to ask his questions later. By now he was slowly turning immune to such strange sights.
Weirdly enough the mist wall was still there, not moving, not shifting, it just waited at the back, stagnant.
“Does anyone need medication?” Ruzen considered it was only right to use his gift on his followers, they were bleeding here and there, but thankfully nobody seemed gravely injured or missing limbs. It was also odd that they didn’t seem to be showing any extreme emotion, it was uncanny how they didn’t even pause to do something about their injury. Maybe they had turned immune to the horrors or they simply assumed they would be facing these difficulties if they stayed with Ruzen.
However, hearing Ruzen’s offer, many did show signs of relief and gratefulness.
“He cares so much…”
“He is willing to help us… don’t tell me he wants to use that herbal plant?”
“You are too kind Keeper, we won’t need such treatment. The mist herd don’t cause too much harm, they are just known to extract a little bit of blood to quench their thirst. We all are aware of it.”
Whoever it was, what he said made Ruzen sigh with relief. It seemed to elevate a pressing guilt on his part. He wished they weren’t following him so readily, but to know that they were careful and still adamant… it gave him confidence again. Because coming so far, the journey though dangerous, was still lively and enjoyable because of them.
The rejuvenating herbal plant had a mind of its own as it climbed down Ruzen’s back, and hopped towards the people who were behind.
Ruzen didn’t see it, but he could feel the energy spiraling in the air as the plant went further behind.
“I-I can feel it, some kind of foreign energy entering my body.”
“I can too, it is amazing!”
“Look! My skin is healing so fast…”
“No wonder…”
Several exclaims of interests were there as people wondered in awe.
Ruzen felt the plant again as it climbed over his back taking support of the clothing fabric. It was a strange feeling, weird but not offending. It was good that he knew things, because if it was earlier when he had just transmigrated, it would have scared him to death.
Really, the feeling of root like appendages climbing on you didn’t feel very fantastic. It was an odd sensation and very jarring.
“Thanks to the Keeper, everyone is healed!”
Hearing the soft cheer, Ruzen smiled in relief, fortunately he hadn’t healed himself so blatantly, because then, it could have been seen as cheating… although, he did feel the effect…
As if hearing Ruzen’s thoughts, the helper fellows walking behind him spoke up over the echoes of worshiping followers. “Please be careful Keeper, you are walking over a thin line.”
Ruzen nodded his head to show them he understood. And on the side, he kept thinking about that old master who gave him the plant. Could it be, that the master knew what they would be facing ahead… or did he simply give the gift because he felt it could be helpful to Ruzen… whatever the case might be, it was fortunate that Ruzen was careful with his gift, because he didn’t want to be called out for cheating.
Facing the front, Ruzen saw plain fields, but a little further, he could see the peaks of several hills. The clouds over there didn’t seem very dark, so he assumed that the weather there was even better. A lone stretch of blue carpet travelled far, astonishingly accurate over the trail that Ruzen had to follow. It might be the shortest route and whoever laid it out knew that Ruzen might follow the same lead.
If one thought about it, then it was really baffling how such a long walk of carpet was used just so Ruzen could make his travel comfortable. Earlier he hadn’t thought enough about this matter, but now, he could really see the devotion of the King.
If only he could fly his way through and complete this journey as quickly as possible.
Sighing, Ruzen looked up at the overcast sky, it felt grim, the weather shifty and unpredictable, but one thing was sure – Ruzen’s journey wouldn’t stop no matter what.
And just like that, four days passed, thankfully with no obstacles this time, with Ruzen travelling through caves, over hills and mounts, by valleys and by shores… the residents greeting and welcoming him wherever he went.
The journey was broadcasted everywhere, as people watched him go through rough weather and pleasant sunny days. Followers came and went, but the parade never lost its appeal. Instead of dwindling, the procession only got longer. It was as if there was a festival and everyone wanted to join in the festivity despite the dangers that followed it.
That mist was concerning! Thanks for the story! ❤️
you are welcome! Thanks for reading!
thanks for the chapter
thanks for reading and welcome!
I bet it was someone from the council 😏
hehe~
I love that little plant. 🌱 Sounds like a sweet mascot. I feel like every obstacle only makes his believers worship him more. Those who put them up might feel pretty frustrated by now. 🤭
hehe, true. Thanks for the comment ~
The mist is odd . But im glad that Ruzen is safe.
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for reading!!
Thanks for the chapter ❤😍