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The arrival in Eldoria was much calmer than Victor had imagined.
After so many days between roads and seas, he expected a storm, or at least some setback to crown the journey. But nothing happened. The crossing through the Sea of Mist was silent — only the sound of the hull cutting through the water and the damp wind brushing against his face. The sea had a strange, almost living air to it, and from time to time, the boy felt as though something down below was watching him. Still, it was just a sensation. No disasters, no creatures. Only mist and cold.
During the voyage, Jane had taken on the role of teacher. An impatient, straightforward, and demanding teacher — but an efficient one. In just a few days, Victor had learned more about mana, control, and endurance than he ever thought he could.
The atmosphere between the four had also grown lighter. Even Burst, with his impulsive and proud nature, seemed more at ease.
Eldoria, in contrast, was a spectacle on its own.
The air was pure, cold, and refreshing. The scent of flowers and damp leaves mixed with that of clean, ancient stone. Colossal trees rose among buildings and suspended bridges, their branches intertwining with the arches and columns of elven architecture. It was a kingdom that had fused with nature — not the other way around.
The wide streets were paved with translucent crystals, and enchanted vehicles glided silently over them, guided by streams of mana. People walked in light garments, adorned with tiny beams of light that orbited their bodies like living fragments of magic.
Despite the brilliance, there was order. No robots, no gears, no iron machines like in Valoria. Eldoria had evolved in a different way — through balance between the natural and the arcane.
"I think it's this way…" murmured Burst, holding the map upside down.
"You're an idiot," Jane replied, not bothering to hide her boredom.
They were looking for a spiritual temple. According to Jane, that place was known for housing dense spiritual energy — perfect for a spirit's growth and evolution. The group's goal was clear: to help Merlin advance to Class (A).
The problem was Burst. Since taking the role of guide, he had refused to hand the map to Jane — which made their walk far longer than necessary.
Victor looked at the two and sighed, gently holding the girl's wrist.
"Let him be, Jane. He just wants to feel useful."
Jane averted her gaze but didn't reply. Since joining the group, she had been the one solving almost everything: training, strategies, information, decisions. Burst, as proud as he was, must have been feeling left out.
"We're never going to get there…" complained Jane.
"It's fine, we've got time," said Victor, trying to ease the mood.
"And you, don't relax. Keep the mana circulating. If you stop, you'll lock up in the middle of a fight."
"Yes, ma'am…" the boy replied, feeling his body tingle under the steady flow of energy.
The training was simple but exhausting. Jane was teaching him how to keep his mana active constantly, even while resting — a technique that improved control and reduced consumption in combat.
It was during that training that she revealed she already knew the truth: Victor was a Metamorph.
He expected rejection, fear, maybe disgust. But she just gave a small smile, as if it made no difference at all.
Jane explained that humans compensated for their lack of brute strength through magical manipulation — that mana, when properly used, could reinforce muscles, bones, and even reflexes. She herself was living proof of that: a single strike of hers, reinforced by mana, had enough power to split a mountain in half.
Victor, on the other hand, didn't need mana to be strong. But learning to control it… that was another level. That was evolution.
"There!" Burst suddenly shouted.
Victor looked up. Ahead, a colossal staircase climbed into the mountainside, covered in moss and light. Each step seemed old enough to have witnessed entire eras.
"[What a staircase!]" exclaimed Merlin, excited, floating a few palms above the ground.
Without hesitation, they began to climb. The wind grew colder with each meter, and the sound of the trees below vanished, swallowed by silence. After long minutes, the group reached a red portal, where the staircase split.
"Now what?" Victor asked.
Jane stepped forward and extended her arm. As soon as her hand crossed the portal, a golden energy enveloped it — then faded.
"It's a barrier," she analyzed. "We can pass."
On the other side, the Temple of Eldoria revealed itself.
It was majestic, built of green and silver marble, with columns full of ancient inscriptions and floating crystals that emitted a soft glow. Small side houses sheltered monks and spiritual gardeners. The air there was different — dense, pulsating, almost sacred.
An elderly elf with long ears and a braided beard approached them.
"Welcome to this humble spiritual temple. I am Kry. How may I help you?"
The name sounded strange to Victor's ears, but he stayed silent.
"Good morning," said Jane, bowing slightly. "My name is Jane Ignaris, this is my brother Burst, and these are Victor and Merlin. We came seeking aid for Merlin's evolution."
"[Hiii! How are you?]" greeted Merlin cheerfully, floating with a bright glow.
The old elf smiled, his eyes shimmering as if he could see the energy surrounding her.
"Ah, a young and vibrant spirit. I will be happy to help… as long as, of course, you can contribute with a small donation."
"Donation?" Jane raised an eyebrow.
"Four gold coins for the temple. One for each of you."
Victor's eyes widened. "That much?!"
He knew the value of those coins. Four was enough to pay for a good lodging for months.
"We'll pay, hehe…" said Burst, scratching his head, embarrassed.
"It's fine," replied Jane without hesitation.
Victor sighed. "Alright. I'll pay. Merlin's part too. If it's to help her…"
"[Victor… I'm touched. Knowing how much you love your money, that's practically a declaration of love!]" joked Merlin, a teary emoji glowing beside her body.
The elf chuckled lightly and guided them inside the temple.
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The temple's interior was even more impressive than it looked from outside. Wide corridors stretched in curved lines, decorated with tapestries that shimmered under the gentle light of suspended crystals. The green marble floor reflected the silhouettes of visitors like a mirror. Spirits floated through the halls — some in human form, others translucent, with the features of animals or flowers.
Victor watched in silence, feeling mana vibrate through the air.
It was as if every wall breathed living energy.
For an instant, he felt small. But also… at peace.
Kry led the group into a round room, where a massive tree grew in the center, piercing through the ceiling and scattering silver leaves across the floor. Around it, elven monks meditated in silence, and the sound of water running through a small artificial stream completed the serenity of the place.
"This is the heart of the temple," explained Kry. "The Tree of Fantasy. It is the spiritual source of Eldoria. Spirits seeking evolution undergo a ritual before it."
Merlin floated closer, hovering near one of the roots.
"[It's so beautiful…]" she murmured, her lilac glow reflected in the leaves.
"Yes, but it's nothing compared to the real one. Its roots descend beneath the temple and wrap around the underground of the kingdom. This one is only a fragment of the true tree, which was abandoned long ago in the place that would later become this kingdom. No one has ever seen the real Tree of Fantasy. Legends say it's as large as the universe itself."
"Can she really evolve here?" Victor asked.
"Yes," Kry nodded. "But not immediately. There's an imbalance in the temple's energy. A group of adventurers is trying to solve the issue, but…" — he paused briefly — "they seem to have underestimated what dwells in the sacred cave."
Jane narrowed her eyes. "What kind of issue?"
"Corrupted spirits. And something older… something that awakened when the city's mana began to fluctuate. They're being born from the tree's roots."
The air grew heavier. Even Merlin, usually cheerful, went quiet.
"We're recruiting volunteers to assist the purification team," continued Kry. "In exchange, we grant full access to the ritual and the blessings of the tree."
Jane crossed her arms, thoughtful.
"Then it's a fair trade."
She looked at the others. "What do you think?"
Burst raised his hand, grinning. "I'm in! It's been a while since we went into a dangerous cave."
"Of course you'd say that…" Jane muttered.
Victor laughed, scratching his neck. "If it's to help Merlin, I'll go too."
In truth, he was hopeful he wouldn't have to lose his two gold coins if he helped.
Kry tilted his head, satisfied. "Excellent. You'll depart at dawn. The adventurer group will be waiting at the eastern entrance of Lúmen Forest. You may rest here until then."
Victor nodded, still staring at the tree.
The silver light falling upon it seemed hypnotic.
For the first time since leaving Valoria, he felt he had arrived somewhere… safe.
Bells rang faintly in his mind — a blurred memory from his old world. But he felt nostalgic as he was bathed in the Tree of Fantasy's energy.
"A church. I felt this once when I went to a church… what was I doing there?"
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The group left the temple in the morning and soon entered the damp shadow of Lúmen Forest. The air seemed denser there, as if the leaves were hiding secrets in the shadows. The path to the forest's eastern entrance was bustling with teams: small camps, makeshift tents, people with maps and torches, stalls selling potions and artifacts. There were dozens of adventurers — some with guild banners, others alone — and each group brought a different type of preparation and equipment. Rumors circulated among the anxious voices: sacred cave, corrupted spirits, and the urgent need for purification.
Jane walked with firm steps, dressed practically: a short tunic, durable pants, and armor pieces only on her forearms, secured with leather straps. Burst was the same — casual clothing, worn boots, a mix of pride and haste that contrasted with the calm of the place. Neither he nor Jane seemed ready for a full-on metal clash, but they knew how to use what they had efficiently.
Victor followed the group's pace, feeling the mana vibrate differently. He wore the combat outfit Burst had given him in Valoria. He planned to leave the hard work to Merlin, Burst, and Jane, while focusing on absorbing things with his [Skillful King] and collecting valuable items he might find.
Merlin floated alongside him as always.
"Wow, so many people…" her speech bubble bounced cheerfully.
Victor smiled reflexively; the expression came naturally from the way Merlin moved and colored the environment with her words.
There were groups of every type: elven archers mingling with human hunters, healers with vials hanging from belts, artificers carrying barrels and devices, even a small convoy of mercenaries in dark cloaks.
Victor quickly realized this expedition wasn't just five people entering a cave — there was coordination, hierarchy, and, for those who knew, discreet politics between factions. It was best to keep a low profile and learn.
Everyone here would gain something of interest by the end of the expedition, so it was best to focus on their own goal and not interfere with anyone.
Across a clearing, a middle-aged man with a simple cloak and a calm gaze caught the group's attention. He had no flashy ornaments, only a grimmoire at his waist and a trusting expression. He seemed to be in charge of organizing the volunteers.
"Are you from Kry's temple?" the man asked. "I'm Arlen, local coordinator of the purification teams. Before we start, a few quick rules: do not enter alone, do not touch corrupted symbols without protection, and above all, maintain communication with your partners. Corrupted spirits tend to isolate and manipulate. If anyone loses their sanity, fall back. Understood?"
Jane nodded firmly. "Understood."
Burst gave an exaggerated nod. "You can count on me."
Victor felt the weight of the word "sanity" and adjusted his mana in response, like a subtle warning.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you from evil spirits!" Merlin's speech bubble shone excitedly.
While Arlen explained the logistics — meeting points, escape routes, and mana signals — Victor observed the surroundings. The clearing thrummed with tense energy: tents, supply sacks, protective runes drawn on the ground. It was a militarized heart amid the sacred forest.
Then he saw her.
Leaning against a wide trunk, half in shadow, a woman observed the movement. Her long, straight blue hair flowed to her waist, catching the light in soft reflections. Her clothing — a green crop top ending at her waist and black pants ripped at precise points — seemed designed to provoke and challenge simultaneously. There was something almost predatory in her beauty.
Victor noticed it without meaning to. The way she crossed her arms, her quiet, attentive gaze, how every detail of her body seemed made to be observed — everything about her screamed danger with a voice of curiosity.
And when her pink eyes turned to him, the world seemed to shrink.
She smiled. A small, almost sweet smile — the kind that didn't reach her eyes.
She raised her hand in a slow, almost mechanical wave, as if greeting a long-time acquaintance.
Victor blinked. The gesture was simple, almost banal, and yet it left his throat dry.
He didn't know who she was, nor why that wave disturbed him so much — he only knew that when her eyes met his, something inside him made a faint noise.
His body responded before his mind: one step back, then another, until he found himself near Jane, as she was the strongest in his group.
'Strange… I didn't feel this with Orion, nor with any other creature. But that pretty face… she could definitely kill me.'
Jane finished talking with Arlen and was already aligning the team. Rest time was over. Rumors about the cave were growing louder, and the clearing began moving eastward, toward the shadow where the cave's mouth awaited.
But before leaving, Victor looked in that direction once more. The woman was still watching him. The smile remained gentle yet unsettling.
"Victor? You're really close, are you okay? Did something happen?" Jane asked.
He stayed silent for a moment, then finally replied.
"I'm fine. I just don't want to end up getting lost."
Jane raised an eyebrow but let it pass.
"If you say so. Don't worry, we just need to keep an eye on Burst and Merlin. They'd probably be the first to disappear from our sight."
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