Deep within the Shadowwood, progress was nearly impossible. Dense trees and low-lying plants, tangled thorns, and large animals everywhere made each step a struggle.
Nearly half a month had passed. Ever since we found water, Rachel Lan and Emperor Yan had been utterly exhausted.
We stopped to rest in a low valley. My body weight began to feel almost nonexistent, and, most crucially, my thoughts started to tangle. Often, while thinking, my mind would suddenly blank out, leaving me dazed for a while. The symptoms of The Stilled were clearly worsening.
"Old Yan, I'm going out to gather some firewood. Watch Ethan for me, will you?"
After Rachel Lan put me down, she prepared to leave the valley. Emperor Yan nodded in response.
"Sigh, we were lucky last time to find the Aqua Leaf. But the Terra Root and Flame Blossom are much harder to find. What should we do?"
Emperor Yan looked deeply troubled. He had led people into the Shadowwood many times before, but most attempts ended in failure. Many who followed him had died here.
Suddenly, my head buzzed again—it was happening. My thoughts fractured.
I had no idea how much time had passed before I regained consciousness. Rachel Lan had already returned, but Emperor Yan was gone.
"Ethan, only the Terra Root and Flame Blossom remain. It's alright, don't worry. Just rest."
Rachel Lan began to build a fire, preparing to roast the small wild boar she had hunted earlier that morning.
"After we rest for a couple of days, let's head to the wasteland across the valley. The view is more open there—maybe we'll have better luck finding what we need."
Yet what awaited us was a long stretch of emptiness and disappointment.
My body grew weaker by the day, now little more than skin and bones. Worse, I was rarely conscious—awake only for a few hours each day, spending most of my time lost in a haze.
On this wild, desolate land, Rachel Lan and Emperor Yan led me for more than ten days. We found nothing—no trace of what we sought.
"Let's head into the mountains, Rachel. It's time."
Emperor Yan pointed toward the looming black mountain range in the distance. It would still take time to reach them. Life on the wasteland was harsh—the wind was fiercer than in the forest. Each day, they searched for black rocks, building a ring to shield us from the bitter night winds.
I had no idea how long these days would last, but I knew my time was running out. Soon, I would lose consciousness entirely.
"This way."
Suddenly, my eyes shot open—a voice I'd heard twice before, now returned after so long. I was startled, and at once saw the direction: not the mountains Emperor Yan had pointed to, but the gentler forest to our left.
"Is there something you want to tell us, Ethan?"
I breathed evenly, letting Rachel understand something without words. Emperor Yan leaned in as well, and both of them started to think deeply.
"Could it be that Ethan has noticed something?"
As she spoke, Rachel immediately placed her hand by my nose.
"Ethan, listen: if it's not true, hold your breath. If it is, just breathe normally."
Rachel watched me intently.
"Did you discover something?"
I began to breathe quickly and urgently. Rachel broke into a joyful smile, but then, suddenly, she seemed to realize something.
"Could it be that you know where it is?"
I started breathing rapidly again. Emperor Yan pointed in different directions, trying one after another. Finally, when he pointed to the forest extending downward on the left, I breathed quickly once more.
"Let's go, Old Yan. It's that way—we almost went the wrong direction. Ethan can sense so many things."
My consciousness faded away again, sinking into the grip of the Stilled.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the forest sloping downward. We all stared in surprise—it looked like a giant sand pit, stretching endlessly below.
"Let's search this area thoroughly."
Emperor Yan spoke as midday passed. After eating, we entered the woods and easily caught some small animals. Once prepared, Emperor Yan and Rachel led me along the forest's edge.
"There really might be something here. This forest has herbs you can't find anywhere else."
Rachel nodded. She could already identify many of the herbs, thanks to Emperor Yan's daily lessons. They planned to circle down with me, determined not to miss a single patch of ground.
But after three days, we had covered less than half the distance and found nothing. Still, their enthusiasm kept rising—the place was special, with no large beasts, only small animals and plenty of sweet, delicious fruit.
For two people who had trekked through dangerous forests, this was paradise. At night, they took turns keeping watch, no longer fearing large carnivores. Here, they could finally sleep peacefully.
We were getting closer to the center. A week went by.
Worry crept into me. The voice had given me a hint, but what did it really mean? Watching Rachel and Emperor Yan do all this for me, I felt a pang of guilt.
On the tenth day, we finally reached the center. The thicket was so dense it blocked out everything—trees packed tightly together, unnaturally so. Luckily, they were all short, stacked atop each other. Emperor Yan hacked away with his bush knife.
"There's light, Old Yan..."
Suddenly, Rachel shouted and rushed over to help Emperor Yan chop through the little trees. In an instant, all three of us were stunned.
Before us lay vast pools of water, and clusters of yellow and red plants, divided into three sections near a stone plaza. The center was hollow, surrounded by thick trees like a giant dome, completely enclosing everything.
"We found it, Ethan. We really found it!"
Rachel shouted with excitement, but I could barely hear her—I was slipping into unconsciousness.
In complete darkness, I floated, thinking nothing, knowing nothing—only the sensation of emptiness.
"You've come here, or perhaps you've returned here."
A deep, booming voice echoed. I looked around the darkness, confused.
"Who are you?"
"I come from the Unreal."
I was stunned—a burst of fiery red light flared before my eyes. On the left, a blue glow shimmered; on the right, a yellow radiance. All three colors surged into my body, and I felt a rush of warmth.
"The Promise of the Unreal—let it be discovered, let it be passed on."
Dazed, I opened my eyes.
"Ethan, Ethan..."
Urgent cries filled the air. I smiled as Rachel clung to me, tears streaming down her face. I reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
"Thank you, Rachel. And you too, Old Yan."
It felt like a rebirth—I was truly alive again, impossibly so. Emperor Yan grinned with joy. After nearly four months, I had finally recovered. I watched Rachel, exhausted, drifting to sleep in my arms.
"Old Yan, my stomach..."
"Alright, just wait—I’ll get us something to eat."
Holding Rachel, I sat down on the stone plaza, gazing at the three patches of beautiful, glowing plants around us. Everything here was utterly incredible.
"Promise of the Unreal... Is this the place?"
I muttered in confusion, sending out my Specter Web to probe the area, but found nothing unusual.
In less than an hour, Emperor Yan returned with freshly caught and prepared small animals. He lit a fire and roasted them. The long-lost aroma filled the air. Rachel slept soundly, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.
"Eat up—it's tender."
Emperor Yan handed me a piece of roasted meat. I blew on it for a moment before eating. The rich flavor made tears stream down my face. After so long, I looked at Rachel sleeping in my arms and finally understood how terrifying death truly is.
Cold and helpless, with nothingness all around—Rachel must have felt like this before, trapped in the grip of the Stilled.
"By the way, Old Yan, have you ever heard of the Promise of the Unreal?"
I asked, and Emperor Yan shook his head in confusion.
"I don't know. Ethan, who told you about this place?"