Abel started off learning more about the Cursed Trenches in the region of Caelondia. This forbidden zone has a storied history rooted in an ancient conflict between powerful dark sorcerers and the sea goddess.

Long ago, a brotherhood of Legendary dark sorcerers sought to harness the mystical energies of the ocean depths to amplify their arcane bloodlines. In their insatiable quest for dominance, they carried out a forbidden ritual that angered the sea goddess and brought forth her wrath.

Since no full deity could step foot in the mortal world, the goddess cursed the once-pristine underwater expanse in retaliation, turning it into the treacherous Cursed Trenches of today. The waters that were once vibrant with magical life, twisted into a realm of dark enchantments and malevolent creatures.

The sea goddess bound a guardian known as the Dark Leviathan to protect the secrets hidden within the trenches. The cursed zone became a perilous region for those seeking forbidden knowledge or power. The Dark Leviathan, a colossal and sentient guardian formed from the wrathful energies, still lurks in the depths to this day, defending the remnants of the dark sorcerers ill-fated ritual.

Over time, whispers spread of an ancient artifact hidden within the Cursed Trenches… the Conch of Rebirth. It was said, whoever wields this divine artifact has the power to either lift the curse or amplify it, depending on the intent of the user. Many adventurers had ventured into this forbidden zone, but few have ever returned.

Abel let out a sigh as he finished going through the introductory book about the Cursed Trenches.

It was the thickest book of the few he had before him, the others being much thinner in comparison. He had barely gotten a glimpse of this forbidden zone yet there was an entire bookshelf filled with more information. Although he knew the bright flame wouldn’t be there, he couldn’t hold back his curiosity about the closest forbidden zone to his current location.

He picked out the book for Valtoria’s forbidden zone next as he thought his quest’s destination was most likely there of all places, but he was disappointed. It was impossible for the Obsidian Abyss to hold any sort of flame. The forbidden region was underground!

Although the depths of the earth held flames of great might, this zone was the sole exception. Deep within the heart of Valtoria where the subterranean hums echo with the rhythmic beat of molten metal, lay the forbidden region known as the Obsidian Abyss. This forbidden expanse is a testimony to the Valtorian Dwarves' unparalleled mastery over metal, but it was also evidence of their dark history.

Many millennia ago, the Valtorian Dwarves discovered a rare and potent mineral known as Eclipsium. This extraordinary substance possessed the unique ability to absorb and amplify magical energies many times over, going much further than mithril, orichalcum and other such magical metals.

The dwarves greedily delved into the depths of the earth, carving vast caverns to extract Eclipsium, unaware of the dormant power that lay beneath the surface. As the dwarves mined deeper, they awakened an ancient entity left behind by the goddess of the earth before her ascension to divinity. This primordial being was born from the very essence of Eclipsium, a guardian left by the goddess to protect the delicate balance between the earth and the magical energies held within.

Enraged by the dwarves' relentless exploitation, the being that came to be known as the Terrawarden unleashed its cataclysmic powers upon the area. The once-thriving forges were plunged into perpetual darkness. The dwarven settlements that once flourished near the Obsidian Abyss were abandoned, their inhabitants fleeing the furious influence that now seeped from the dangerous depths.

The Eclipsium, tainted by the beings’ fury, gained a sinister aura and turned into a different metal altogether. It was now known as Umbrastone and only Legendary blacksmiths were even qualified to handle such a malevolent metal. Now, the Obsidian Abyss stands as a haunting reminder of the consequences of unchecked greed and the delicate balance between mortal endeavors and the ancient forces that dwell beneath the earth.

‘Why the hell are goddess’s so vengeful, these 2 forbidden regions so far are as a result of the goddess of the sea and the goddess of the earth…’

Abel contemplated, finding it perplexing how these regions of death came as a result of a goddess’s wrath. Although mortal greed was the original source, why would a deity plunge an entire region to a death zone when there were surely other alternatives.

He reached out to another book, this one detailing the forbidden zone within Kaelia.

‘I hope not all forbidden zones are a result of divine anger…’

Abel sighed as he started reading about the Shrouded Steppes. It was once a thriving portion of the continent; the Shrouded Steppe now stand as a forbidden region cloaked in mystery and peril.

Long ago, a powerful human empire flourished in the heart of the Shrouded Steppe. These people, skilled in both agriculture and the mystic arts, cultivated the land harmoniously, creating a utopian society that thrived for centuries. However, their prosperity drew the envy a dark force beyond the veil of the mortal world.

‘Finally, something that isn’t related to the gods…’

Abel didn’t quite believe everything he was reading; this human empire should have been a great power of their times. He attributed the spotty knowledge from the author’s lack of information but he carried reading nonetheless.

In an act of treachery, a rogue noble family of the empire unleashed a forbidden ritual that corrupted the very essence of the grasslands. The once-lush prairies withered and a perpetual shroud of mist descended, covering the dark land from the eyes of the world. The dark enchantments distorted the landscape, calling upon vengeful souls that disoriented and ensnared those who dared to enter.

The wrathful souls not only affected the physical realm but also imbued the Shrouded Steppe with an eerie sentience. The land itself seemed to suck in those nearby, preventing them from leaving without sufficient strength. Those who ventured inside would find themselves lost in an ever-changing maze, the very geography of the Steppe defying conventional navigation. The humans of Kaelia, recognizing the malice that now permeated the once-bountiful land, declared the Shrouded Steppe a forbidden region.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Abel also saw a passage about the myth of a potential cure hidden deep within the heart of the Shrouded Steppe. However, the entry seemed to be cut off, as though the author didn’t have the time to write it down. It wasn’t until he flipped to the very end when he saw a note left behind by the royal bookkeeper, Old Ren.

Apparently, the author of this book had ventured into the Shrouded Steppe, barely coming out of it alive but not unscathed. He had written down his findings but ultimately succumbed from his wounds before he could finish telling his tale.

Abel also came to realize that a forbidden region was home to many natural treasures and resources as each location he read about so far would mention some treasures that could be found there. The only caveat to harvesting them was personal strength.

He had been cooped up in the library for hours by now. Other than briefly logging out to have a bite to eat and a short bathroom break, he didn’t waste a single second reading one book after another. He was feeling quite disheartened at still not figuring out the right location.

It couldn’t be in Caelondia, Valtoria or Kaelia. That only left Elyndor and Aranthus. If it was neither of them then maybe his entire guess was wrong from the beginning. He took a deep breath to get rid of his pessimistic thoughts, it was too early to make such negative and doubtful assumptions. He grabbed an introductory book about Elyndor’s forbidden zones, this once glorious and ancient landmass held 2 such areas.

Within the very center of Elyndor, hidden amidst an enigmatic forest, lay the Veilstorm Vale. This forbidden zone earned its ominous reputation due to the constant presence of magical tempests known as Veilstorms. These ethereal storms are said to be remnants of the powerful spells woven by the vanished civilization, twisting the fabric of reality within the vale.

The Veilstorms are unpredictable and dangerous, with arcane energies warping both time and space. Entire landscapes shift and spectral echoes of the past and the future manifest in fleeting glimpses.

Adventurers who enter the Veilstorm Vale risk getting lost in time, encountering echoes of the ancient civilization or witnessing potential futures. The region is closely guarded by the high elves and they don’t permit entry to those below the Legendary realm.

There are tales that speak of a hidden sanctum within the veil where the key to unraveling the mysteries of the vanished civilization may be found. In fact, most races believe the high elves are after these secrets which is why they do not permit entry to anyone else. Only Legends have sufficient standing and strength for those arrogant elves to not simply dismiss.

‘It’s definitely not here either, maybe in the next forbidden zone…’

Abel kept feeling more worried as he crossed off one forbidden zone after another. He went on to read about the Misty Archipelago.

Off the western coast of Elyndor, obscured in perpetual mist, the mysterious Misty Archipelago can be found. This forbidden zone comprises a chain of small islands, each surrounded by an ethereal fog that obscures both land and sky.

Long ago, the inhabitants of the Misty Archipelago made a pact with a mysterious entity only known as the Mistweaver. In exchange for prosperity and protection, the people agreed to carry out sacred rituals to maintain the balance between the material world and the ethereal realm. However, as generations passed, the rituals were neglected and the people's gratitude turned into complacency.

In response to the breach of their covenant, the Mistweaver unleashed a powerful curse upon the archipelago. The islands vanished from the sight of the world, hidden behind a blanket of magical mist that distorts perception and reality. Ships that approached the archipelago were either lost entirely or found themselves sailing in circles, trapped in an illusionary seascape for varying amounts of time.

The inhabitants of the Misty Archipelago, now trapped in a parallel dimension, are condemned to an existence between life and death. The archipelago's landscape seems frozen in an eternal twilight while ghostly echoes of their covenant reverberate through the fog.

The Misty Archipelago was the most recent forbidden zone and it was declared as such by the people of Elyndor within the last thousand years. It is believed that the mist not only holds a physical barrier but also a gateway to a realm where the boundary between the living and the dead is blurred. There are also tales of ghost ships emerging from the fog, carrying haunting melodies that echo the archipelago's forgotten culture. This also serves as a chilling warning to those who would defy an ancient pact with the Mistweaver.

The information about the Misty Archipelago was the thinnest, with the record mostly recounting its history. It was too new and unexplored to really hold any significant information but Abel could glean enough to tell the Misweaver was either a god that was not part of the pantheon or an ancient sorcerer that doesn’t hail from the known races.

‘Then this taboo, bright flame has to be in Aranthus. It actually makes sense, the desert continent might have such an environment because of this flame!’

While Abel was taking a break, he thought things over and realized the last continent with the most forbidden zones should be the most likely case. He felt rather silly not connecting the dots earlier, but he couldn’t be blamed.

He thought that Valtoria would be the most likely location due to the continents forging heritage. Then he assumed it might be Elyndor due to its long and storied past. After going through all the regions except Aranthus, he realized how obvious it was. The book about Aranthus started off portraying the most well-known forbidden zone within the smallest continent of Faeron.

Amidst the endless dunes, there lay a vast expanse known as the Sands of Silence. History speaks of an ancient sorcerer who sought to harness the power of the desert winds to propel himself to godhood. In an act of forbidden magic, the sorcerer invoked the wrath of the Djinn, an elemental force residing within the heart of Aranthus. In response, the Djinn cursed the region, causing the sands to swallow the sorcerer along with sound itself.

Now, the Sands of Silence are shrouded in an eerie stillness all year long.

The nomads' songs and the whispers of the desert wind are all consumed by the curse. Travelers who venture into this forbidden zone find themselves in a world devoid of sound, where even breaths are swallowed by the Djinn’s powers. The cursed silence is said to carry with it a strange, haunting energy that leaves those who experience it forever changed.

‘Not here… sounds like a scary place but definitely not it!’ He went on to read about the next forbidden zone.

Crystal Mirage City is a mystical phenomenon birthed by a convergence of ancient magic and the searing heat of the desert.

Long ago, a group of illusionists sought to create a sanctuary shielded by illusion to hide from the outside world. They cast a powerful spell that went askew, intertwining the illusion with the raw essence of the desert. The result was the Crystal Mirage City, a mirage so potent that it materialized into a tangible and forbidden reality.

The Crystal Mirage City is actually a breathtaking spectacle with shimmering lakes, lush oases, and verdant flora that defy their arid surroundings. However, any attempt to approach the illusion unveils its true nature; an expanse of scorching, crystalline structures that disorient and entrap those who enter. The nomads of Aranthus, wise to the dangers of Crystal Mirage City, consider it a forbidden zone. The allure masks the treacherous reality that awaits those who succumb to the mirage's enchantments.

‘If it isn’t on Aranthus, then I might have been wrong from the beginning.’

Abel was feeling anxious and hopeful of the last forbidden zone. He was hopeful of finally finding the place Branthor had run off to and anxious that it wasn’t the place. He had been reading for more than half a day and this was the last possible location he could check.

If it wasn’t here, then he’d have to re-think the entire premise of the location being in a forbidden zone in the first place!