After leaving that patch of gray fog, the pain in both mind and body vanished. Lady Thorn sighed softly, then gestured for Shade to look back. When he did, the fog had already disappeared as well.
"Memory vanishes after being experienced once. But passing through fog named after memory is not without benefits. Lost memories related to the emotion corresponding to that fog may return because of it, and it can also strengthen our mental resilience."
Shade nodded slightly.
"So besides fog of 'pain,' are there other emotions here?"
"Yes. In theory, any emotion that can be contained within memory may appear. But in my personal experience, fog containing negative emotions is more likely to appear. This sort of fog is the most common thing in this swamp, but it is also the safest, since it causes no real harm."
She motioned for Shade not to stop.
"The firelight has grown dimmer. Let's head back quickly. I still have several books there."
The witch's voice abruptly stopped. A black shadow was rapidly approaching them through the White Fog ahead. It was definitely not human, and it was moving extremely fast.
"What is this now?"
Shade asked quietly. The witch had already assumed a casting stance.
"There are many strange things in the fog. This one looks like an enemy, I suppose. I can sense the aura of the undead, but it isn't a ghost."
The Corpse Ghoul with gray-green skin soon tore through the dense White Fog. It was unlike most of the Corpse Ghouls Shade had seen. Rather than moving on all fours, it walked on two legs despite its hunched back. Black particles drifted from its entire body, and its murky yellow eyes actually held the confused expression unique to intelligent life.
Behind it, a string of black