As Leo moved deeper into the Forest of Fawl, the atmosphere began to change in a way he couldn't fully explain. The tension that once lingered in the air didn't disappear—it simply faded into something quieter, something more controlled. It was as if the forest itself had decided to stop testing him… and started observing him instead.
The ground beneath his feet softened gradually. Layers of moss replaced the rough soil, sinking slightly with each step he took. It felt cool, almost damp, as if the earth was alive and breathing beneath him. Even the air shifted—it grew richer, heavier with moisture, carrying a scent that was both fresh and unfamiliar.
Leo slowed down.
"…This smells different."
He inhaled deeply. The scent was a blend of wet soil, fresh leaves, and something faintly sweet—like flowers, but not the kind he had seen in the castle gardens. It wasn't overpowering. Instead, it wrapped around him gently, calming his mind without him realizing it.
For the first time since leaving the castle, his body relaxed.
Then he noticed the light.
Soft glows began appearing around him—faint at first, then clearer as he stepped forward. The forest opened into a quiet clearing filled with glowing mushrooms scattered across the ground like fragments of fallen stars. Their caps pulsed with dim blue and violet hues, casting a gentle glow over the moss.
Fireflies drifted lazily through the air, their lights blinking in slow rhythm. Butterflies with translucent wings fluttered nearby, reflecting the glow as they moved.
Leo stopped without thinking.
"…What is this place?"
The sounds around him slowly came together.
Frogs croaked softly near a hidden stream. Insects chirped in uneven patterns, yet somehow it all blended into something harmonious. Leaves rustled gently above him as a cool breeze passed through the branches, carrying the faint sound of distant water.
It didn't feel random.
It felt like music.
Leo stood still, listening.
"…Everything feels… alive."
A butterfly drifted toward him, hovering briefly near his face before circling him once and flying off again. He watched it quietly, a small smile forming on his lips.
"I've never experienced this kind of beauty before."
For a moment, he forgot everything—the truth about his identity, the anger, the confusion. None of it mattered here.
He just walked.
Slowly, calmly, following the path Sol had described.
After a while, he noticed something different beneath his feet. The moss thinned out, replaced by firmer ground. The surface looked worn—not by people, but by time itself.
"…This is a path."
He followed it.
The sounds began to shift again. The gentle harmony of insects and animals faded into the background, replaced by something deeper.
Water.
At first, it was faint.
Then clearer.
Then constant.
The steady sound of flowing water echoed through the trees, growing louder with every step he took. His heartbeat unconsciously matched its rhythm.
Then he saw it.
A massive tree stood ahead, its roots rising from the ground and curving upward, intertwining with its branches to form an archway. The structure resembled a gate—not built, but naturally formed.
Leo stopped.
"…So this is what he meant."
The air around it felt different.
Colder.
Heavier.
Sacred.
He stepped closer, his hand brushing lightly against the bark. It was rough, ancient, and carried a faint chill that lingered against his skin.
Beyond it, the sound of water roared louder.
"This is it."
Leo stepped through.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the world opened.
A vast clearing stretched before him, illuminated by silver moonlight. A towering waterfall cascaded from high above, its waters glowing faintly as they crashed into a crystal-clear pool below. Mist rose into the air, drifting across the ground in thin waves, the droplets cool as they brushed against his face.
The scent here was stronger—fresh water, damp stone, ancient wood… and something else. Something deeper.
The air felt heavy.
Not suffocating.
But meaningful.
At the center stood a massive tree, larger than anything he had ever seen. Its roots spread across the ground like veins, gripping the land as if anchoring something hidden beneath.
Leo's breathing slowed.
"…This place…"
It felt important.
Like the land itself remembered something.
At the base of the tree, resting quietly on a bed of soft grass, was a stone.
The moment Leo saw it, his chest tightened.
He didn't understand why.
But something inside him reacted.
"…This is where it all started?"
Carefully, he stepped across the rocks, balancing himself as the mist made the surface slightly slick. The sound of water echoed around him, steady and powerful, filling the silence.
When he reached the center, everything felt… quieter.
Not silent.
But focused.
Then—
He heard it.
Not water.
Not insects.
A presence.
Leo slowly lifted his gaze.
There, resting on a branch of the massive tree, was a figure.
A girl.
Her silhouette was partially hidden by clusters of glowing fireflies, their lights surrounding her like floating stars. As they moved, fragments of color reflected across her figure, making her appear almost unreal.
Leo's breath caught.
"…Who are you?"
The girl didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she moved.
She descended from the branch with a quiet grace, and as she did, the fireflies scattered outward, filling the air with glowing light. The entire clearing seemed to brighten for a moment, the colors reflecting against the water below.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply stood there, surrounded by something that felt too perfect to be real.
Leo glanced at her.
She's… beautiful.
Recognition struck him instantly.
"…Rein Seraphim?"
Rein blinked, equally surprised.
"…Leo?"
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I wanted to see Ember Falls," Leo replied, glancing around again. "My father told me about it."
Rein nodded slightly. "Your first time?"
"Yeah," he said softly. "And honestly… this is the most beautiful place I've ever seen."
"…It is," she replied.
Silence fell again.
"…Hi."
"…Hi."
Both of them looked away at the same time.
Leo scratched the back of his head. "About the Academy… I'm sorry."
Rein shrugged. "It's fine. You beat me, so that just means I'm strong too."
Leo chuckled lightly. "Fair enough."
His expression shifted slightly.
"You saw what happened during my fight, right?"
Rein nodded. "You were surrounded by light. Even the Sundane Force Masters couldn't measure it."
Leo hesitated.
"…That's why I'm here."
Rein frowned. "What do you mean?"
Leo sighed quietly.
"…I'm adopted."
Rein froze.
"…What?"
"It's complicated," Leo continued, pointing toward the stone. "That's where I was… created."
Rein blinked, clearly confused.
"Created?"
Leo laughed awkwardly. "Yeah… something like that."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're not normal, are you?"
Leo paused.
"…I'm a Lightlock."
Silence.
Rein's expression changed completely.
"…So they're not extinct?"
"…Guess not."
"And that energy… it's not Sundane Force?"
Leo shook his head.
"…No."
Rein stared at him, then smiled faintly.
"…We should research that."
"Yeah… but first…"
Leo turned back toward the stone.
Ancient carvings covered its surface—symbols unlike anything they had ever seen.
"…No one's reading this."
"Definitely not," Rein replied.
Then—
The bushes shook.
Both of them froze.
A flicker of light appeared between the trees.
Torches.
"…They found me," Leo muttered.
The knights rushed forward—
But before they could reach them, Rein raised her hand.
A flash of light burst outward, blinding them instantly.
"Run!"
She grabbed Leo's hand, and together they dashed across the rocks, moving quickly into the forest.
They didn't stop until the sounds behind them disappeared completely.
"They're gone," Leo said, breathing heavily.
Rein looked at him. "I thought you didn't want to get caught."
"…I don't," he replied. "But I also don't want to go back."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I want to explore," he added. "This world."
Rein smiled slightly.
"Then where to?"
Leo blinked. "Wait… you know this place?"
"I come here often," she said. "To escape."
She rolled her eyes. "'You're not good enough,' 'Your cousin is better'—that kind of thing."
Leo laughed.
"Hey, don't laugh."
"I'm not—okay, maybe a little."
Then—
It hit them.
A sudden, overwhelming aura crashed into the forest.
Heavy.
Dark.
Terrifying.
The air itself trembled.
Animals scattered instantly, fleeing in panic.
Leo froze.
"…What is that?"