The lake named Boneyard was much deeper than expected.
Even without the need to breathe, the lake water pressed down from all sides like a massive boulder.
Of course, this was due to diving too quickly.
After adapting for a while, the sensation of the entire body being “tightly squeezed” improved significantly.
To make the dive easier, Su Yao had stored all her clothes in the Warehouse, except for two items of close-fitting undergarments.
Under normal circumstances, one shouldn’t open their eyes during a deep dive.
However, with Fulin’s “damage reduction” and “barrier” support spells active, Su Yao didn’t have to worry about her eyes being uncomfortable due to the water pressure.
The Magic a fairy could store in a Barbie-doll-sized body was limited, and spells with such high consumption couldn’t cover her entire body.
Protecting her own eyes and Su Yao’s was Fulin’s limit.
But thanks to her, Su Yao had the privilege of admiring this mysterious underwater world.
“Is it really okay for you not to go up and accompany your ‘teacher’?”
“Don’t worry about it. It is my duty to fulfill Lady Fu Na’s long-held wish. Besides, you’re too weak. If I let you go down alone, you might mess things up!”
Su Yao admitted that this fairy was superior in “support spells” and so-called “Illusion Technique.”
Their current method of communication, which was similar to Telepathy, also relied entirely on her abilities.
However, she couldn’t agree with the claim that she was “weak.”
“I don’t know which fairy it was that I had scurrying all over the place back then.”
“And I don’t know which loli grabbed me and tied me up for one night!”
Heh, she actually dared to bring that up. Su Yao was still thinking about that fairy’s butt—specifically, for spanking!
“Don’t run, I’ll give you a Buff!”
“No! I don’t have that kind of fetish!”
……
Chasing the troublesome fairy all the way down, Su Yao and Fulin eventually reached the bottom of Boneyard.
It wasn’t completely devoid of light, but as far as the eye could see, everything seemed buried in a blue “mist.”
The areas closer to them were a clear, bright azure, while the distance was a blurred, deep navy black.
Just as it was in the Forest, there were very few living creatures in the lake. However, unlike the surface, the lake bed was covered in a vast amount of blue-green “mineral clusters.”
“Water Source Stones”! And their purity was actually higher than the Water Source Stones in her mine pit!
These magic ores “grew” out of reefs that resembled grayish-white “coral.” Between the crevices, many pale skeletal remains of various sizes could be seen.
The pure white “bone dust” on the lake floor was stirred up by the currents created as Su Yao and Fulin swam, only to drift back down like “snowflakes” after they passed…
Su Yao had originally thought the scarcity of life in the Forest was caused by these fairies and the Treants they commanded.
But seeing the deathly stillness of the lake bed, she realized she might have been wrong.
What had happened here was likely known only to that “Lizard Undead”—no, the remaining Dragon Spirit—and Fulin…
Driven by curiosity, she asked the fairy beside her, “Why does your fairy clan treat this ‘Lake of Death’ as a Sacred Land?”
Fulin hesitated for a moment before finally telling the story of her people.
“The Forest Fairies are the weakest branch of the fairies. Aside from the ability to obtain the memories of the forest and its creatures, the Wood Magic we excel in isn’t as offensive as that of other fairies.”
“Because of that, our ancestors lived a displaced and wandering life. That was until one day, the first ‘Fulin’ discovered this lake and the Dragon Spirit lingering above it.”
‘The first Fulin…’ Su Yao murmured to herself.
That Dragon Spirit was definitely the “Fu Na” she had just met. What she hadn’t expected was that the name “Fulin” was actually passed down through generations.
“Yes, that name was personally given by Lady Fu Na. From then on, every Clan Leader of the Forest Fairies throughout the generations would take that name.”
“The first Clan Leader didn’t come here by accident. It was only after meeting Lady Fu Na that she learned a Dragon—that is, the remains of That Great Person—rested within this lake. The powerful Magic emanating from those remains was the reason our clan was attracted to settle here.”
“The first Clan Leader and the other fairies relied on the Magic within Lady Fu Na’s remains to reproduce. We settled in the Forest surrounding this lake and grew strong.”
According to that, the Dragon Spirit could indeed be considered one of their clan’s “ancestors.”
“Not only that, but that is only a small part of the grace we received. Do you remember me saying the Forest Fairies are the weakest branch?”
Su Yao nodded.
That seemed to be the case. Wood Magic didn’t have many offensive spells to begin with, and when combined with a fairy’s pitiful Magic reserves…
“So, to help our clan establish a foothold in the Forest surrounding this lake, That Great Person selflessly taught us a great deal of other knowledge and magic. Among them was the Illusion Magic that defeated you.”
‘So it was that fellow’s doing…’
However, it had to be said that the memory-reading ability and Illusion Magic were a perfect match, as long as they were used cleverly…
It was infuriating! To think she disguised herself as Chlorel to deceive and ambush her!
But…
“Why couldn’t my ability see through it?”
“I told you, you’re too weak. I am a Clan Leader who has lived for over 500 years. Try using that strange ability of yours on me now.”
There was no need for the trouble; she had already tried. This girl’s “aura” was erratic, and now she couldn’t see it at all…
Though it was a harsh reality, Fulin was telling the truth. It looked like she would have to grind levels intensely once she got back.
“I’m getting off track. That Great Person was a benefactor to our clan, so of course we couldn’t just leave her here. Besides, before the White Mist appeared, this lake was far more beautiful than it is today.”
“Wait, the White Mist?”
“Don’t tell me that ‘mist’ isn’t something you created with magic?”
“Ha? Are you stupid? If I had the power to make mist cover such a large area, would I have needed to use Illusion Magic to catch you?”
Ugh, as annoying as it was, she couldn’t actually argue with the fairy…
“Then what exactly is that ‘mist’?”
“I’m not sure either. But have you ever heard of the ‘Desolate Lands’?”
The blonde loli shook her head. Claiming ignorance when asked was a traditional skill of hers…
“Perhaps that name isn’t quite right. In some people’s memories, it is also called the ‘Land of the Undead.’ Legend says that in that place, ‘resentment’ takes physical form to harvest life. Perhaps the White Mist here is similar to the ‘resentment’ found in those places.”
“But I didn’t see the Forest on the shore being affected?”
“It’s something like a ‘toxic gas’ and a ‘Curse.’ Trees naturally have a higher resistance than living creatures. Besides, every time the mist dissipates, we come out to ‘heal’ the Forest.”
Fulin paused for a moment.
“After all, this is our ‘home.’ And as long as That Great Person remains in this lake, this will be our clan’s Sacred Land…”