The sun had been at its peak when they stopped to rest. They had planned to have a midday meal and then continue, but sloth had gotten the better of them.

The mist of the falls had further blurred their sense of time, hanging idly around them like a fog. It had been subtle at first, and Noble hadn't even noticed the time slipping away.

But now, when the eyes of so many were drooping, she could not deny that they were under attack.

Noble reflexively sent out her senses to find anything strange.

The only thing she felt from those around her was shared exhaustion.

It wasn't a mental attack. Noble had experienced too many of those to have missed something so obvious.

No, this trouble ran deeper than the mind. It was rooted in the soul.

Noble dove into her Soul Sea, confirming what she already knew.

Small, almost invisible fissures were covering her core, threatening to crush her soul if left unchecked.

But she was tired. Child of Promise yawned again. Her body was responding to the exhaustion in the only way it could, by requiring a nap.

With more energy, Noble could focus and guide the people to safety easily. But rest would spell her doom. As soon as she let down her defenses, the strangling hold on her soul would crush her from the inside.

Already, the mundane people around her were beginning to close their eyes.

That did sound nice.

But Noble fought the urge. She breathed deeply, forcing out the words with great effort.

"We have to get out of here."

"What do you mean? It's peaceful here." Flint scratched the back of his neck as he leaned back on a tree. "Are you ok?"

"No. We…shouldn't be tired." Noble felt herself float a little higher. Her control over her Flaw was waning.

"Everyone gets tired." Roan tilted his head lazily. "You are only human, and you have had an unconventional week."

Exhaustion was clouding her thoughts, or maybe the mist was growing thicker. They needed to wake up!

Making herself extra heavy, Noble pressed herself against the ground. The pain further damaged her soul, but it wasn't her soul she was worried about just then.

She took the pain, pushing it onto both of her companions.

"Wake up! We are under attack!"

Roan and Flint leapt to their feet.

Realization suddenly dawned on them.

"We have to get out of here," Flint shook off his daze. He coughed.

Roan coughed too, pressing his fist to his chest. "The mist. The creature is in the mist…"

Noble had come to the same conclusion, but the words would not come. It seemed to take extra energy to say something against the mist that was trying to consume them.

So she did the next best thing.

She thought.

'Burn the mist!'

Flint pulled an unassuming stone from his pocket. The black coal gained color quickly, glowing like a burning ember in the fog. Flint lifted his arm.

"Duck!"

The two other Masters complied just as a fireball consumed the air above their heads. The mist evaporated, giving the cohort a small space to breathe.

Taking in the warm air, Noble's lungs were singed, but it also helped clear her mind. She felt the suffocating force on her soul retreat.

"I don't think the creature is in the mist. I think it is the mist," she told them.

Looking around, the people seemed oblivious to her shouts and hadn't even bothered to look their way when a fiery ball had jutted out around the shore.

A few of the mundane people had already closed their eyes. One of the older soldiers, who was leaning against the nearest tree, let his head loll to one side.

His breathing slowed, and his emotions faded from Noble's emotional sense.

"No!"

She tried to jolt him, but it did no good. The man was gone.

Child of Promise didn't want anyone to die ever, but falling unknowingly to an insidious monster that was crushing their soul? That was unthinkable!

Invisible connections left the woman and shot in every direction. Her Kingdom Keeper attribute was far from perfect, but it was better than nothing.

"We have to keep them awake. We have to find Syrce, and we have to get moving!"

Already tendrils of mist were invading the small area that Flint had cleared. He released another burst of fire to slow its progress.

"Can you find Lady Syrce?" Roan summoned a sword, not that it would do much good against the enemy.

Noble nodded. "I can feel her emotions. She is that way."

"You and Flint get her. I'll start moving these people into the wagons." Roan waved his hands.

Flint opened his mouth to argue, but saw the sense in the decisive action. The tethered pair headed away from the falls as their leader called the people around him.

"It is time to go! Get moving. There is a storm coming!"

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flew from the sky, striking in their midst. Just before touching the ground, countless tiny sparks of electricity sailed in every direction, jolting the closest members of the caravan from their drowsiness.

Roan used the last bit of clean air to give his final call. "Get yourself moving. Those who cannot walk, climb on the wagons. Whatever you do, do not fall asleep!"

He then took a deep breath and held it. Sparks appeared beside him as a glorious griffin took shape. The man in the blue scarf seamlessly climbed on the creature's back, giving his mount a mental command.

One way or another, he would drive the people from the fog.

---------

Noble was relieved to see that the Pink Ones didn't seem affected by the mist. If anything, they were wary of it.

They stomped on the ground, anxious to get on their way.

Child of Promise was happy to oblige. Loading three Awakened on the bench using her Ability, Noble slapped a Pink One's rear as she passed by.

It needed no more encouragement. With a trumpet, it headed down the path with its weary passengers in tow.

Noble tried to warn the next group she passed, but the words would barely come. "Go...mist... dangerous...get out!"

Thankfully, the people seemed more cognizant than the first group. An Awakened among them was already pushing them away from the cliff and the falls.

Noble couldn't stop to check on them. She needed to find Syrce. Unfortunately, the Saint was moving toward the falls, not away from them.

Here, the mist was so thick, it was like breathing water.

'Flint?'

More fire came, though it was not as boisterous as the first two times. The boiling hot air was still better than breathing in the soul-sucking monster.

'That's probably the last time, Blondie. I don't have much left in me.'

Noble nodded, taking several deep breaths to replenish her mind and circulate her essence. If only she had wings instead of just being able to float! Perhaps then she could create a current to hold back the mist for longer.

Alas, she had no Memory or skill that would complete that task, and as the monster closed in around them, they both held their breath and dashed forward.

A moment later, they found Syrce. She was engulfed by the mist.

And she wasn't alone.