Abidos.
A Demigod hurried into the hall and met the King of Curses, Baranka.
This Demigod trembled lightly all over, frightened by the "punishment" she foresaw herself suffering soon.
Baranka, whose skin lacked the luster a human's should have, spoke from her abdomen. "What is it?"
The Demigod below swallowed, not daring to look at this Angel. Lowering his head, he said softly, "Lady Baranka, we... we've lost contact with Sargus."
Baranka's two clouded, glass-bead-like eyes shifted as she looked at the Demigod. "What do you mean, lost contact?"
The Demigod swallowed again. "Sargus didn't contact us at the appointed time."
"So I sent a messenger, but..."
Baranka frowned. "But what?"
The Demigod shrank back fearfully. "But the messenger returned very quickly."
"It said it couldn't find Sargus and couldn't establish contact with him."
Baranka snorted.
That cold snort carried a trace of her Divinity, causing bumps to rise all over the Demigod's body below. He nearly suffered Loss of Control.
Baranka spoke from her abdomen. "Are you trying to tell me that Sargus and the army he took with him have already been wiped out?"
The Demigod, who had only just steadied and recovered himself, panted. "Th-this, I can't be certain of."
"However..."
"We observed that thick fog seemed to be rising over the highlands not far from Abidos."
"This fog may have spread from the Starfall Mountains, or even farther away—from the Dead Silence Forest."
"This kind of fog is highly abnormal. It may have been caused by some ability or a Sealed Artifact."
Baranka narrowed her eyes slightly. "Fog... that has to do with the weather."
"Could it be a Weather Warlock, or a corresponding Sealed Artifact?"
The King of Curses waved her hand. "Understood. Leave now and have Laskin prepare the defenses."
"In case Abidos comes