Submission (#6108) Approved

Being in the sky, Chester could see how he hadn’t spotted it at first. The canopy of trees below was thick, blocking out most of the view above. Even up here, he could barely glimpse through to the ground, only catching spot views of the marsh below. It seemed the border stretched for quite a distance, with no end in sight. He debated flying higher to see if he could clear it, but then he’d lose track of the contagion area. Though at this rate… he imagined the infection had already extended well past the mana well.

Was it… even possible though? If he could soar above it, that meant he could escape the contamination, right? Not that he had any intention to. Enmir was still a place he called home. He would never abandon. Not to mention if nothing was done, eventually the miasma would reach the city too. While he chose to distance himself from others, it didn’t mean he wished active harm on them. And the kittoms… He didn’t want anything to happen to them.

Determined, he began to fly. He scanned the area below, trying to see if the miasma was starting to affect the trees in any way, when he began to notice. Was he flying lower, or were the trees starting to get taller? He began to fly higher, only to notice clouds begin to form. The canopy also seemed to shift hues, going from the darker, murkier greens to a brighter, more vibrant hue. While one would normally associate this green as a healthier colour for foliage and vegetation, Chester knew something was off.

His suspicions were correct as he began to notice rocky outcrops form, and flew down to take a closer look.
This was…

There was no doubt about it. This was Ealei, and yet, somehow still Enmir. He knew Ealei was across the ocean, but he had not seen any water as he was flying. If he had crossed from Enmir into Ealei, he would have traversed an expanse of ocean. There was no way he would have missed it. And he hadn’t traveled that far either. Granted, having the ability to fly brought about a series of conveniences, but flying from one region to another, especially an ocean away, was still quite taxing.

While he puzzled over what had just happened, he then realized. He had been so focused on looking down, that he hadn’t noticed the miasma above him grow thicker. He had ended up passing the overwild border, and ended up in a pocket space of sorts. He didn’t know all too much about it, but on his travels, he had heard occasional tales of individuals who had stumbled upon such spaces. Of course, most of these elnins were often labeled as raving lunatics, the experience no doubt having rattled their mind, and most often paid no heed to their tales, believing them to be made up. Still, having encountered said pocket space, he knew he shouldn’t linger too long.

Of course, the ones who made it back were the lucky ones, but there were also stories who never ended up returning. Of course, these were often the ones who were cocky and ill-prepared, believing themselves capable of anything. He imagined even the most well-seasoned travel caravans would have trouble handling the different elements from various regions within a small area, such as handling the arid climates of Zevija and Ahza to the frigid temperature of Strynhalde. Even if Enmir and Ealei themselves weren’t too perilous of a region to traverse, each still each had their own areas of places to be wary of, such as the murky gloom of the Shaedmoor and the winding roots and currents within Ealei.

The overlapping boundaries also caused an instability, and Chester could certainly feel this. While he could avoid most of the terrain by flying, he could feel the fatigue as his mana felt off, most likely due to the abnormalities in the environment. It didn’t help that he had been flying for a while now too, and it began to show. His breathing was laboured, and he knew he tried to keep going, it wouldn’t end well. While he didn’t think he was in any danger of dying, it wasn’t something he wanted to test. And while there were no deaths reported for those who ended up venturing into pocket spaces, those who lingered too long ended up with some sort of side effects, often in the result of an unstable mind, while others… were just never found. In any case, he should leave.

This was easier said than done though. While he had encountered the irregularity while flying, his exhaustion had caused him to fly lower, until he was below the canopy of trees. There was a mix of mangroves and willows, with draping vines and rocky outcrops mixed about. While he had a loose idea of which way to go, the scents and smell of the area were mixing together, and with the trees and roots intertwining, it felt he was in a labyrinth of some sense. As much as he wanted to conserve his energy, getting out of here quickly was his top priority.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his wings, and with a mighty flap, pushed himself to soar above the canopy. He scanned around, trying to see where the mangroves and rocky outcrops began to thin out, and following along that path, eventually made it out of the pocket space.

He took a few moments to catch his breath, and looked around. Time to find another path to take.