With the cat leading the way, Shade and Sister Devlin walked side by side, each leading a horse, until they too reached the surface of Lake Carlek.
When they first began walking on the lake, the scenery around them was perfectly clear. Shade could clearly see the three rings on Little Mia's tail not far ahead, and the only thing in the air above the lake was the damp scent of water. But after another dozen or so steps, mist rose from nowhere. The Great Fog surrounding them abruptly concealed the scenery along the shore, and even Little Mia ahead was reduced to only her nimble tail, still visible through the thick fog.
In the dense mist, the Metamorphosis Ring, Fish Training Ring, and Bloodkin Ring seemed to glow, dispersing some of the fog and making that tail exceptionally distinct.
"Where did such a thick fog come from?"
Shade wondered inwardly, but neither he nor the nun spoke. The two silently led their horses farther into the lake. Before they knew it, Little Mia ahead became clearer and clearer, while the dense fog around them gradually dispersed.
However, the landscape around the lake was no longer the countryside west of Huntington. Instead, it was a winter forest encircling the lake. It seemed that while walking across the water, they had crossed into another spacetime and arrived at the mysterious Lake of Cherub.
"Look, Lake Heart Island."
Shade spoke softly to Sister Devlin, then sighed.
"Every time I find this place, it is this interesting. If I came here dozens of times in a row, it would be enough material to publish a book of fairy tales."
Little Mia had already successfully reached the island and was excitedly looking around. Before Shade and Sister Devlin could catch up, a large and