After entering the valley, the further they walked, the more desolate the environment became. The surface was almost devoid of vegetation, the desolate mountain path cutting through jagged, interlocking rocks. Only dead grass and brambles grew in the cracks of cliffs, and in the distant darkness, some withered tree branches seemed to sway. The cold wind in the mountains passed through the branches like black smoke, making creaking sounds.
Brand knew this was because the nutrients in the soil had been absorbed by the Magic Tree. He held up a torch to illuminate the surrounding rock walls, occasionally revealing a few white skeletal remains in the shadows. They looked like goats, which due to straying into the forbidden area, had become food for the Golden Magic Tree.