Chapter 64

Cyrus POV

Staring at the remains of the creature I had just defeated, I watched as the branches of the once-humanoid figure crumbled and seeped back into the ground. I couldn't help but feel uneasy about these creatures.

"What do you mean by rumors, Dad?" I asked as I sheathed my blade and picked up my bag.

"According to ancient texts, there are entities said to be spirits born from the cosmic vines of the Eldertree. Apparently, they only awaken when the Eldertree senses danger," my father explained as he handed me the cores of the creatures he had defeated.

"Does that mean we're the danger?"

"We very well could be—unless there's something or someone else out here that warrants this response. But I'm curious as to why it only sent out these weak guardians if it was reacting to our presence. I wonder where the big guy is," he muttered as he continued pressing forward through the astral rainforest.

I didn't bother following up with the question. If I needed to know, he would have told me. Instead, I hurried to catch up, placing the core he had handed me into my bag.

Traveling through the astral rainforest of Syltharion territory was far more challenging than navigating the outskirts of the physical realm. Not only were the weather conditions more intense—amplified by cosmic energy—but maintaining constant vigilance was an even greater struggle. Everything caught my eye, mesmerizing me with the sheer beauty of this place. As I trekked through the region, I wondered if the physical realm had ever looked like this. What would the world be like if machines and technological advancement hadn't taken over?

Being on the run these past few years had given me a deeper appreciation for nature—both its beauty and its horrors.

"Hey, Cyrus, where are your reserves at?" My dad suddenly halted, turning back to check on me.

I had honestly lost track, distracted by analyzing everything new I saw. "Uh, I have roughly about a third left," I answered, stumbling over my words as I snapped out of my daze. But I quickly realized he already knew what my reserves were at.

"Alright, let's take a rest here and give you some time to absorb these cores. Remember, we're losing cosmic energy at three times the normal rate compared to our usual astral forms, so we need to be diligent about monitoring it."

"Yeah, you're right," I said, taking out the two star spawn cores and beginning the absorption process.

"But you did well gauging that creature's strength and not using too much of your energy in the fight. That level of discernment is going to be critical as we continue traveling through the astral realm," my father added while rummaging through his bag.

"How much farther until we reach the Plaza of the Grove?" I asked as I finished absorbing the last core.

"We have about five more miles, give or take. At our current pace, we should reach the plaza by the time the third moon rises," he stated matter-of-factly.

His response threw me off. I had been so focused on my surroundings that I hadn't even considered looking up. When I did, I realized I had been completely unaware of what the sky above actually held. It appeared as if a translucent barrier protected the astral realm, separating it from what we called space. Planets, stars, and celestial objects were visible with perfect clarity—almost as if I were staring through the world's largest telescope.

"Come on, let's get moving, Cy. I sense another pack of weak astral behemoths up ahead—about a dozen of them. If we play our cards right, we can sell a few of their cores for equipment and supplies."

Gathering my things, I nodded and took off. "Whoever kills the least has to pay for dinner."

_________

Theron POV

Several days had passed since I last spoke with Adam, and something felt off. Trusting my instincts, I quickly flew down to the town where he resided. Before stepping out of my aircraft, I grabbed my mask, pulled my hood over my head, and made my way toward the town entrance.

As I approached, I noticed an eerie absence of astral behemoth signatures. The rift had been cleared. The only cosmic energy signature I could detect was a familiar one—yet something about it felt weaker than before.

The town's atmosphere was cold and lifeless. Few people acknowledged my presence as I followed the energy signature to a small infirmary. I didn't bother asking for permission as I walked past the nurses tending to their patients.

"Lord Enzo, may I ask who you are here to see?" one of the nurses asked.

I ignored her, turning the corner to find a familiar face lying on a gurney.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. "So, you survived," I said, removing my mask.

"Yeah, I did—but not without consequences," Kael responded, lifting his severed arm. "I understand what you meant about him now. He's a different beast entirely. If it weren't for that damn soul weapon of his, I think I might've been able to win."

"Don't delude yourself, Kael. He was playing with you."

"And you think you're so much better, huh?"

"I am," I replied bluntly. "But let's get you out of here and back to your family so you can rest."

"Yeah, I'm ready to leave. I don't want to be reminded of my failure—or the fact that my opponent showed me mercy."

As we walked through the city, we received numerous bows and words of thanks. Most were directed at Kael for the work his guild had done in the area. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. I couldn't sense Adam's signature anywhere.

"He's no longer alive, if that's what you're wondering," Kael said, his voice grim. "I can tell you were looking for him. Even though I can't see your face under that mask, I can still feel your intent."

"What happened to him? Did Ezra turn on him?"

"No. From what I gathered, it was the kid who did it."

I narrowed my eyes. "Cyrus?"

"I didn't see the fight, but when I arrived out of the astral realm, Adam's mutilated body was lying there, and the kid was holding his core in his hand," Kael explained. "That kid looked terrifying. The fact that he's only at the first stage and was capable of that… honestly, it makes me concerned about what he'll become in the future. He could turn out to be truly formidable. You'd do well to be wary of him."

"I agree."

"If he weren't so closely tied to his father and his cause, I'd say he'd be the perfect candidate to join our ranks. Someone with that potential… in a few years, he could be the ideal running mate."

A small smirk tugged at my lips under the mask.

"It's funny you say that, Kael," I murmured, placing a hand on his back as we stepped beyond the town's borders and toward my aircraft.