They had already left the village even before first sunlight can emerge behind the hills.
The forest received them without making any sound.
Until now they didn't encounter any hostility.
By the way not... A welcome.
Just... awareness was spread, as they walked.
Elder Chaya from the naval village walked ahead, staff steady, her pace was neither slow or hurried. On a few steps behind elder Chaya was behind, she was silently following her movements.
Along with them limbo walked with many questions which were un answered.
No explanation was given.
They had come before the dawn, Chaya had stood outside his home, out of nowhere along with Caya, saying only...
"Come.."
Even Ela had not asked why.
Nor Ronan protested taking him when the village full of gossips about him.
But they knew something.
That alone tells limbo something was usual and it carries more weight.
Now, hours walking into the forest, the air felt different.
This area... Layered.
The wind did not move leaves unless it wishes to. Birdsong existed — but seemed distant, as if filtered through water. Even the light looked slightly muted, bending differently as it touched the ground.
Limbo noticed first what others might have skipped.
The mana here did not flow.
It circulated.
The further they walked, the quiter the forest became.
Birdsong did not flee they just watch curiosily.
Animal watch them moves but no one runs as if they're not scare of them.
The ground around here seems to...aware.
"This path," lbo said quietly, eyes forward, has always been here."
Caya gave a faint hum of approval.
"Most never see it," he replied.
"No one can pass without permission, except some scenarios."
"Permission?" He asked confused face, "why?"
They reached a certain place where the trees curved inward unnaturally, forming an arch of living bark. Moss hung like a veils. The mist was thickened.
Chaya stopped.
She struck her staff once on the ground.
The sound did not echo.
The air folded, the dust spread with small vibration, And the deadend path continued.
Crossing felt like stepping through Cold water without getting wet.
Sound dulled.
Wind bent.
Limbo felt something brush along his spine not touching him physically, but tracing the outline Of his presence.
He didn't flinch—instead choose to...
Observed.
The soil beneath his feet was indeed richer here—almost luminous with unseen life. Thick roots intertwined like veins beneath the skin. Strange fruits that grew unlike outside, fruits grew in clusters along the trees that bore NO flowers. Small animals moved calmly, powerful creatures by aura alone, yet none hostile or care about their presence.
"The forest here...not wild unlike other places."
They entered a clearing, not large or grand.
But dense.
The air pressed downward with weight.
At the center stood a massive, ancient tree it's trunk was wide enough that ten men could not encircle it. It's bark was scared. Deep grooves ran vertically, like wounds that never fully closed.
Mist coiled at its base.
It moved.
Not with wind.
But with breath...
Chaya and Caya both knelt.
Limbo remained standing.
The mist thickened.
Two eyes opened within it.
Not bright, not blazing.
Deep amber. Ancient.
A voices rolled through the clearing — not loud yet echoes, it was impossible to ignore.
"You let him rage."
Chaya bowed her head lower.
"Yes, i didn't expect this."
Silence followed.
The eyes shifted.
They focused on limbo.
The weight increase.
Roots beneath the soil tightened.
The mist drew closer., swirling around him without touching.
"You crossed."
Not accusations.
Observation.
Limbo met the gaze steadily.
"Yes, but i didn't intend to it happens suddenly." Limbo was confused and unaware of situations but seeing elder he choose wisely.
A pause.
"Good."
The mist pressed closer.
Limbo felt something move through him, anything didn't enter, nor anything invade.
But like his skill, it felt like...
Scanning.
Like The roots testing stones.
"Dive threads," the voice murmured.
Limbo's pulse did not change.
"One borrowed."
The restrain on Gaja flickered in his memory.
"Two missing..." Limbo said softly.
Chaya's breath caught, bearly hear by anyone.
The guardian continued.
"You walked between elements without proper structure."
Limbo felt like the air vibrate differently.
He also felt something else.
The mist flickered, only once.
Brief.... But real.
Limbo's eyes narrowed slightly.
He felt a pull beneath the soil.
Not here.
Below.
Something strange ...feeding.
The guardians breath deepens.
"You noticed."
It was not a question.
Limbo inclined his head slightly.
"There is a drain," He said quietly. "Under root."
Caya's eyes widened.
Chaya did not look surprised.
The mist trembles faintly.
"The coil grow below, " the guardian said.
The clearing dimmed softly.
"It feeds where I cannot descend.
Bound.
Limbo understand instantly.
"You are anchored," He said.
The amber eyes glowed brighter for a heartbeat.
"Yes."
The word carried age.
"I hold balance above."
The roots tightened around the clearing parameters.
"But rot burrow below."
Limbo felt the weight of that.
The siphon he sensed was not large yet.
But it was pateint.
The mist thinned quietly and slightly.
"You didn't fight with control," the guardian continued.
"You became force."
Limbo's jay tightened.
The memory of ela's blood flashed through him.
"I know." He said with face down.
"No."
The world cracked softly.
"You do not."
The mist drifted forward.
For the first time, it touched him.
Not cold or warm.
It was dense.
The pressure against his chest steadied.
Inside him the chaotic flicker of lightning that had been restless for day quited.
His breath deepend involuntary.
The sharp edges between the elements inside him softened.
Alighned.
The force didn't get stronger.
But rather Balanced.
Elder chaya exhaled slowly.
"You stabilized him," she whispered.
"For now," the guardian in mist form replied.
Limbo opened his eyes slowly.
He felt the chaos within him which was went unstable due sudden surged of emotions and aftermath of force elements before time.
Now has soothed.
But still many questions rose inside of him.
"Why me?" He asked, finally someone who can answer, he thought.
The clearing became still.
The ember gaze in mist didn't waver.
"You're not the chosen one."
"You're.....**********."