Milling Air…was…right. Milling Air is a natural phenomena caused by the difference in magical densities. Although it can be created manually, it is a rare naturally occurring phenomenon around the edges of the Jungle of Illusions caused by the magically dense air in the jungle interacting with the less mana dense air in the outside. This causes the air to seem blurred as if it was superheated, but in reality, the mana in the air starts vibrating rapidly. This rapid vibration is enough to damage the internal organs of most organisms, including the brain, so while plants with their tough trunks can survive, any animal that enters its range would be turned silly before suffering a slow death. Would the death be painful? No one caught in it ever had the chance to respond before their mental capabilities seized to function, so it could be considered unpainful…or so I’ve been told.

We continued to scramble away from the turbid air, as Suticat followed us, nipping at our heels to urge us on. He probably felt the unnatural wave of energy from it ages ago, which might have explained his unruly behaviour previously. Yes, that was right. Right, we needed to head passed the river up ahead. That way we could go towards the centre and avoid the Milling Air. I glanced searchingly up ahead to look for a ford to cross. It would be unfortunate if we missed it due to a moment of carelessness. The next ford after would be a while way and would require be taking a massive detour.

“..Uh..Hey Vixen. What’s…that?”

Awoken from my thoughts by her voice, I glanced back before following the direction indicated by her finger to behind a few shrubs. I couldn’t see from my angles, so I backed up a few steps, to align myself with her and…

“Um…what?” I couldn’t stop the small mutter from escaping my mouth. There was a faintly glowing black curved line that overlayed the natural foliage…

“…That should be a magic circle.” Sarratina voiced the thought in my head. But judging from the curved lines, the actual circle might be a kilometre in size. This shouldn’t be here. In fact, eight years ago, it definitely wasn’t here. I wonder who did this, and what the magic is even meant to be.

“But a magic circle this big must be some sort of huge spell. My royal father once briefly mentioned it even though no one practises magic like that in Fae.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Uh…now’s not the time to be focusing on that! The milling air seems to be coming in our direction!” Right, a spell like this must be drawing all the nearby mana. I didn’t feel the change in mana in the air because I’ve stopped my natural absorption of it, but no wonder the breeze all seemed to be coming this way. 1*

Shoot, we need to leave before the milling air encroached upon us, but I really want to find out what the circle was doing and if there would be anything in the centre. “Vixen, give it up. You would need to climb a really tall tree to see the whole circle, and even then I doubt you or I could identify it. I know it’s not your style, but we just need to head further in to this jungle blind to what that large spell might be doing.” Huh…my face was read. Still, there is no time to be wasting now. I glanced towards the Milling Air; or more precisely, the front of its destruction. Although it was not moving rapidly, it was surely and slowly making it’s way towards the circle. Ah, wait!

Hey, Mr. God, you in there?! HEllOOOO?

“Vixen why you shutting your eyes now of-“

Old fox, fire fox?!

“-Yes, I’m here brat.” I suddenly felt my body, no, my conciousness being pulled inwards. “And I’M not just ANY old fox; I’m a deified fox. Sheesh, mortals these days, got no RESPECT. And STOP shouting, you’re hurting my head. It’s not even a life-threatening combat situation, why did you call me back?! I nearly found my third tail before you called me back, this better be important! If-“

Sorry, was just trying to get your attention. So do you know what this magic circle in front of me is? What a weird spirit this is. He claims to be a god, but I doubt my ancestors were like that… right?

“VIXEN, you finally opened your eyes! We need to-“

“Humph, I may be a god, but that doesn’t mean I’m all seeing. You asked the wrong guy. You should have asked one of those trashy Wî gods. Aaron, or what’s it called-“

SO do you not know anything about what this circle is meant to do?

“OF COURSE I do. I am still a god after all, and a pretty strong one.” Well I sure hope your words aren’t just hot air… ”Let’s see, from the size and stuff too complex for you to know yet, it should have been summoning magic, targeted at a really powerful monster or… a god. I see a bit of a deathly aura on it, and from what I can hear of the spirits, the spell should have already been completed a few months ago, and the circle is now just gradually decaying. Just the spell potency and size though will mean it needs half a year to even decade to decay fully. Oh, and from the way your pet is reacting, it shouldn’t be a monster, but rather a god. If it was a monster, he would smell it and he wouldn’t even dare approach here.” He can see deathly aura? What is that even meant to mean? “Anyways, I’m not your walking encyclopaedia. Figure the rest out yourself. In fact I’ll be ignoring you for the next few months, so don’t get yourself killed. Bye-”

“Vixen, snap out of it.” I woke up to the voice of Shiara as I was being half dragged along, Shiara and Sarra holding a hand each. I could feel my head whirling with incomplete thoughts. But a deathly aura…