Chapter 18: Entering the Black Domain.
Walking within the black mist was an eerily bizarre experience, tearing at both body and mind.
The Black Domain lantern emitted a golden halo.
Even in the thick fog world, it barely illuminated less than two meters.
Beyond the halo lay black mist repelled by the light, thick as viscous ink.
Underfoot was black corrupt soil, feeling like fine sand.
More unsettling were countless faint, meaningless murmurs of varying intensity, clinging like bone parasites, always ringing in Carey and Maren’s ears.
These sounds ebbed and flowed, high and low, faintly pricking the brain.
From age fourteen, Carey had entered the Black Domain multiple times with Renata.
He was accustomed to this mental interference from the dark abyss, called “Chaos Whispers,” and could maintain basic composure.
But Maren beside him reacted far more severely.
“No… I don’t want to hear… I don’t want to go in; I’ll die! I really will die!”
Maren’s face was paper-pale.
She shook her head desperately, arms clinging to Carey’s like a lifeline, eyes filled with unconcealed fear.
“Maren, hold on a little longer!”
Carey hugged the girl’s shoulders tightly, trying to impart strength.
He freed a hand, carefully adjusting the Black Domain lantern’s oil valve at his waist.
More holy oil slowly soaked the wick; the dim yellow halo expanded slightly, pushing the thick fog outward a bit more.
“Carey, I heard it… I heard Mama’s voice! She’s calling me…”
Maren trembled uncontrollably, tears soaking Carey’s cloak front.
“Holy Lord… Please forgive my greed and cowardice… Have mercy on me…”
The girl’s consciousness began slipping into chaos, her mouth uttering more incoherent, tear-mixed delirium.
Carey sighed silently at Maren’s suffering.
He quickly slung his pack around his neck, then hoisted the nearly limp girl onto his not-so-broad back.
Lis, following behind, lifted her head.
Her幽 green eyes kept glancing at Carey and Maren on his back.
“What a brave and gentle person…” the sub-female murmured in an extremely low voice.
She then quickened her pace, silently moving to the front to take lead.
…
After walking an unknown time, the fog ahead suddenly thinned; vision cleared abruptly.
Carey, carrying Maren, stood on a vast black grassland.
Behind was the black mist barrier.
Underfoot, strange black grass blades dotted with faint glows stretched to the horizon.
On the eastern horizon, a reddish-copper giant moon hung low, emitting cold rust-colored light, like an indifferent giant god gazing at every tiny intruder in the forbidden land.
The mysterious murmurs in their ears did not fully vanish but weakened greatly, like distant background noise.
Maren’s mind gradually cleared.
Blushing, she slid from Carey’s back.
Standing steady, with survivor relief and strong curiosity, she gazed at this black night world exaggerated in others’ tales.
“So beautiful… Oh no, Holy Lord forgive me; how can I praise the Black Domain?!”
The scene under the reddish-copper giant moon, with its eerie beauty, entranced Maren.
But soon, intense fear jolted her awake.
She knelt hurriedly, hands clasped tightly at her chest, face showing lingering fright.
“It is beautiful; that’s no blasphemy against the Holy Lord—He watches here too.”
Seeing his companion kneel in silent repentance, Carey found it amusing yet exasperating.
“The Long Brightness Moon and Extreme Day Moon are the Black Domain’s safest periods.”
Lis stood aside, explaining softly.
“During these times, the Black Domain looks not much different from the outside night’s.”
She paused, pointing to a hill slope afar ringed by black trees.
“Captain has set up a temporary camp there; I’ll help.”
“Mm, Maren, let’s go together… Wait!”
Carey drew a bronze dagger from his waist, crouched, eyes sharply scanning the glowing grass.
Two seconds later, the dagger stabbed down!
A pitch-black, tailless scorpion-like arthropod hung on the blade, oozing thick black slurry.
“Black blood ant, first-tier; instinctively tracks living scents.”
Carey rotated the dagger, holding it before Maren.
“There should be a nest nearby. But it’s Extreme Day Moon; most black blood ants are dormant.”
“Shall we look for the anthill? With luck, maybe catch a third-tier black blood ant queen. Dried and sold to Mr. Matt—at least thirty crowns.”
“Thirty crowns?!”
Maren was stunned by the number, biting her lip hesitating for a dozen seconds, but finally shook her head firmly.
“No, Carey, let’s complete the Lantern Bearer trial first—that’s most important.”
…
On the small hill slope, two simple tents were pitched.
The campfire sprinkled with holy oil emitted warm, steady golden light, dispelling the Black Domain’s unique chill.
Rich sat in the camp center, studying the map with Linnea.
The map was from Renata; by scale, the deepest marked point was at least thirty kilometers from the black mist barrier.
Einar sat on a rotten log, idly twirling a curved dagger.
Seeing Carey approach, his already gloomy face grew colder, a barely audible mocking hum from his nose.
“Mr. Rich, salted giant fruit berries my mama made.”
Carey approached the Black Star Mercenary Group captain, offering a small copper jar with an especially honest smile.
“Thanks, lucky kid.”
Rich did not look up, tone flat.
“For Lantern Bearers, countless ways satisfy hunger. Focus on more important things, not picnics.”
Carey felt awkward, suddenly at a loss for words.
Seeing Rich unmoved, Linnea quickly changed topic.
“Carey, Renata often brings you to the Black Domain?”
Carey nodded eagerly, a bit proud.
“Mama has brought me many times; Miss Linnea, this is your first time entering from here, right?”
“Hildemark Province’s bordering Black Domain—yes, first time.”
Linnea toyed with a lock of hair at her chest, nudging toward Maren.
“Watch your little woman; don’t let her get too excited and forget the task.”
Carey was taken aback, following Linnea’s gaze.
Maren held a huge pile of freshly gathered bulbroot grass, directing Lis to stuff it into a large cloth bag.
Carey felt embarrassed, hurried over, and pulled Maren back.
Minutes later, Rich folded the map, scanned around, nodding slightly.
The map’s accuracy was verified; Renata indeed updated it annually as claimed.
“Map is detailed; Corrupt Blood Marsh Pool is southeast, not too far. But near black water swamp—likely ghoul harassment… Split up now; whether finding Tear Oasis or not, return in eight hours. Linnea, stay guard.”
Rich emphasized, gazing seriously at Carey and Maren.
“South has a corrupt-face giant wood forest; avoid it—too dangerous for you.”
“Mm, be careful on the way.”
Linnea agreed, then naturally tiptoed and lightly kissed Rich’s cheek before Carey and Maren.
This intimate scene made Maren subconsciously glance at Carey, her cheeks flushing faintly again.
From their meeting, Maren had vaguely sensed Linnea and Rich’s unusual relationship; now confirmed—they were lovers.
Lis was tactful, removing her body-height heavy pack, silently heading south alone.
The most dangerous directions were often taken by the sub-female.
Einar had vanished like a ghost sometime, likely southwest.
The reddish-copper giant moon’s horizon shift was key for time.
Direction was simpler—nearly all Black Domain trees, however twisted, had crowns slightly tilting south.
As the group dispersed, Maren’s relaxed mood from gathering bulbroot grass tensed again.
“Carey, where to?”
Carey surveyed the rust-moonlit black plains, thought a few seconds, pointed east.
“That way; two years ago, Mama found a Tear Oasis there.”