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The view inside the tunnel was overwhelming. Rocks embedded in the walls emitted a soft, natural light, as if the place itself were breathing magic.
"According to our masters, this tunnel was built by earth-element masters of exceptional skill," explained Merto, a guard who had been with us since we left the watch station. "They fused the Lysae with the natural energy of the surroundings, and over the centuries, these lights emerged. A perfect blend of both energies."
He was a pleasant guy, with a calm voice that inspired confidence. I wondered if everyone in Shunkoku was like that.
"I imagine they're valuable, right?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I looked around.
"They are, because of their cultural value. But they don't have any practical use. If you try to cut them, the magic either escapes or is lost, so this is the only place where they really serve their purpose," Merto replied.
"It would've been interesting if they stored magic. The potential uses could be amazing," Aethen added.
His eyes seemed to glow, though his face remained as emotionless as ever.
"Certainly. But there are already Lysae stones that form inside monsters. An alchemist team has been studying them, and their applications have improved the quality of life throughout Shunkoku. You should be somewhat familiar with that, no?" said the guard, glancing sideways.
"Are you talking about the tools that generate water, or the ones that heat and light the streets? Are there more uses beyond those?" Aethen asked, intrigued.
"Hey… why are you asking so many questions? You want to work as an alchemist in Shunkoku or something?" I said, giving him a suspicious look.
He held my gaze for a second, then simply turned toward the guard, waiting for an answer.
"Yeroy's right. As curious as you are, remember he's just a guard. He's giving us information about what's here, not what lies beyond. You'll have time to ask when we get to the city," Darel said in a calm tone.
"And who asked for your opinion?" Aethen replied without changing his tone.
"Hey, what's your problem, asshole?"
At that moment, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"What's wrong with you, Yeroy? You're being aggressive too. Calm down," said Keia, frowning.
"You too, Aethen. That's no way to treat someone, especially not someone older than you," she added, turning her head toward him.
"Sorry…" Aethen muttered, a note of guilt in his voice.
"Hmph," I grunted, crossing my arms and looking away.
It was good that she stepped in, but… what's going on with Aethen? Why has he been so irritable since we arrived?
"Alright, kids," said Kerl, placing one hand on Aethen's head and the other on mine, gently ruffling our hair. "You're teammates, not enemies. And Aethen seems to be having a slight fluctuation in his Lysae. We'd better take a short break. Would that be a problem, Merto?"
"Not at all. Your boys are certainly full of energy, huh?" Merto replied with a small smile.
We paused for a moment after Merto's words. Now that I was paying closer attention, the air felt heavy and humid, and a persistent chill lingered in the tunnel. Aethen looked strange… and thinking about it, so was his behavior. I had never seen him act like that before. I approached him carefully.
"Hey… sorry about earlier. I just wanted to ask if you're okay. You seem… off," I said.
"Honestly, I don't feel well," Aethen replied, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I feel oddly agitated, and ever since we entered, those stones have looked distorted to me."
"Distorted? I don't see anything weird…" I muttered. But when I looked closer, I noticed something unsettling: the lights seemed to lean toward Aethen, almost as if watching him.
"We better keep moving," he said, his voice weary. "I don't think resting here will help."
"You're right, let's go," Kerl added, gently holding Aethen by the shoulder to keep him steady.
It took us a while, but we finally made it out of the tunnel. As we peeked into the open air, a beautiful lake surrounded by trees greeted us. It was absolutely stunning.
"Woah! That lake is huge. And there's a town right next to it… is that where we're going?" I asked in amazement.
"Yes, that's Lake Takeuri," said Merto. "It's one of the vital water sources in this province. Several rivers flow into it, and one even stretches all the way from the sea. Water from the lake is carried through channels to irrigate the crops. It's essential for all of Shunkoku."
As we walked toward the village, everything felt… different. Though only mountains separated us, it felt like an entirely new world. In Valeria, trees were always green and red. Here, they were yellow, purple, pink. There was barely any green foliage beyond shrubs and grass.
"Are all the trees like this, Mr. Merto?" I asked curiously.
"Not all. This place is one of the most unique in the country," he explained. "Some of these trees grow in Hangyul and in the district of Takedoshi. But having all of them together… that only happens here."
"How is that possible? Why are they all gathered here?" I asked, intrigued.
"It's due to a phenomenon that happens every six years, in the spring," Merto replied. "Strong winds sweep across the country and eventually crash into this mountain range. When that happens, the seeds of all the trees in Shunkoku are lifted into the air and mixed with the Lysae released from the earth by the colliding winds. That magical blend carries the seeds to this place, and to Takedoshi as well, where the earth's energy is subtler, but equally receptive."
Just as he finished speaking, a soft breeze rose from nowhere. It wasn't the cold wind from the tunnel—it was warm, fragrant. The air shimmered with a subtle energy, and the sunlight grew brighter, as if responding to the breeze.
"Look," Merto said, pointing to the trees.
The leaves began to sway in unison, like a silent dance. It wasn't the erratic motion of a strong gust, but a smooth, rhythmic flow—as if the trees were breathing. And then, something extraordinary happened: tiny colored lights detached from the leaves, floating in the air like fireflies.
"That's the Lysae," Merto murmured, awe in his voice. "The earth's energy answers the wind, releasing its magic. And here, where all the trees gather, the magic manifests more strongly."
The lights danced around Aethen, surrounding him in a glowing halo. One settled in his palm. Aethen closed his eyes, and for the first time since the tunnel, he smiled with peace.
"It feels… different," he said. "Like the energy understands me. Like it knows what I need."
"Here, magic answers need," Merto explained. "The land of Takeuri is generous and wise. It has offered you its Lysae to restore your balance."
And for the first time, I noticed the distorted lights Aethen had seen were gone. The world around us shimmered with a tangible magic—a magic that soothed and healed, a magic that responded to the will of the earth… and the wind.
After making our way through the dense forest that had accompanied us the entire journey, we finally reached the city gates: a massive arched entrance, with a dragon rising toward the sky and five symbols carved above—representing water, air, earth, fire, and lightning. Beneath each one, strange characters were engraved into the stone.
As we approached, a guard greeted us. Merto handed over some documents—apparently our identification within Shunkoku. After a brief inspection, we were granted entry.
A dazzling, radiant world unfolded before us. We had arrived at our first destination, where a man named Naoka awaited us.
And though none of us knew it then, that meeting would mark the beginning of an unexpected turn in our fates.