Though it was deep within darkness, it only took Rod and his companions six clock hours to return to the Royal City along the safe route they had initially paved.
They were even faster than when they came, setting a standard of high-rank endurance and response to emergencies.
When the four stepped onto the territory of Trolian from the Dark World, Rod could see the influence of the Holy Fire even more clearly.
It was as if there was an invisible boundary; the Black Fog not only visibly layered but became calmer, as if suppressed by some force.
Yet, beyond this boundary, the roiling Black Fog swarmed like countless black worms, viciously and restlessly trying to crawl into warm skin, gnawing at flesh and soul.
"Indeed, the Holy Fire is the foundation of human survival."
Rod thought to himself.
"Without the illumination of the fire, forget about the Black Fog, even monsters would be much harder to deal with."
