“Runes and formations, huh…” Vesta said, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were staring at something far beyond the present—something only he could perceive.For a brief moment, the usual playfulness in his expression faded, replaced by something quieter… more conflicted.“For some reason…” he continued, exhaling slowly, “…I can’t.”Silence followed his words.“It’s not that I don’t have the knowledge. That’s the strange part.”He lifted his hand, fingers curling gently as faint wisps of cyan energy flickered into existence around them. The flames did not roar—they whispered, controlled to an almost unnatural degree.Each strand of energy bent perfectly to his will, flowing like silk threads woven through the air.“I can recall Father's battles… his techniques… his spells… even the way his energy flows when he fights.”His voice softened slightly, almost reflective.“Those things… they come naturally to me. Like instinct. Like they were always mine—even though I can’t fully replica

Inside the Thirsty Bramble Fold’s hideoutThe atmosphere was nothing like the wild, oppressive forest that surrounded it. The interior space was vast—far larger than one would ever expect from the hollowed trunk of a single tree.It stretched outward and downward in layered sections, almost like a small underground town carved into living wood and reinforced by time, survival, and ruthless ingenuity.Pathways wound between carved-out chambers, platforms, and open spaces where people moved about their business—some sharpening weapons, others tending to beasts, and a few simply watching, their eyes always alert, always wary.At the very heart of the hideout, a massive water mana stone veil hovered in place, suspended by unseen forces. Its translucent, fluid-like surface rippled endlessly, casting a cool, shifting glow that illuminated the entire central space.The light refracted like water under moonlight, washing over everything in hues of deep blue and soft cyan. It was clear that th

“So, Hudo… I hear what you’re saying,” Raven finally said after listening to him without interruption, her voice calm yet carrying a subtle weight of thought.She turned her gaze slightly toward the distant horizon, where that unnatural cyan glow still pulsed through the night.“But how do you explain that?” she continued, her tone sharpening just a little. “Those flames—we can all see them. And none of us has ever seen anything like them before.”Hudo clicked his tongue softly, folding his arms again, though his eyes also drifted toward the glow.“Even so,” he began, “even if we assume Elysiome does exist—and someone can cross over from there to our side—we still don’t know anything about it. It’s all just myth.”He shifted his stance, voice gaining momentum.“They say it’s a land filled with vitality mana… that there’s some miracle elixir capable of healing all injuries and extending life indefinitely.”He scoffed.“But do we really need something like that?”His lips curled faintly