"How could there be an Eternal Tree here?" Aria asked, astonished.

"Because this place is home to the Sacred Spring Water, a miraculous source that brings all things back to life," Mistral explained. "Our crops are grown with Sacred Spring Water, so the wheat not only grows faster and healthier but also shines with a silver glow."

Aria could hardly believe she was seeing these beautiful Eternal Trees within Aether’s territory. Their enchanting presence was still awe-inspiring.

"Do you place bodies on the trees like demigods do?" she asked nervously.

"If a body is placed on an Eternal Tree, the soul will never find peace. The Aether people would never do that. They cast their dead into lava, allowing them to become flames, so they won't be disturbed by the Night Ghoul." Mistral continued walking deeper into the forest, motioning for Aria to follow.

"They?" Aria raised an eyebrow.

"I'm a spirit beast, not one of the Aether people."

Aria suddenly realized she had overlooked that detail. Mistral’s appearance was entirely different from that of the Aether people or any humanoid race.

From deeper within the forest, faint sounds began to emerge.

"Are there others here?" Aria strained to listen. The sounds were soft and melodious, with a nasal quality to the tune.

"Those are spirits. The Sacred Spring Water reveals them, but only pure souls can appear in the Eternal Forest," Mistral said.

"Spirits?" A shiver ran down Aria's spine. The word "spirit" made her uneasy.

"They are merely ethereal souls, unable to harm anyone or communicate with the living. Unless, of course, you understand the language of spirits," Mistral explained.

Indeed, as Aria walked into the Eternal Forest, she saw the spirits drifting through the woods. Their graceful garments swirled around them like mist. Despite her careful steps around them, the spirits did not react to her presence. Mistral walked straight through their ghostly forms, as if they were nothing more than vapor.

Deep within the forest, at the center of a rocky cavern, stood a golden ancient pool. Perched on the edge was a golden raven, spitting cool spring water into the pool, where schools of fish swam, appearing more like the embodiment of souls. Soft white mist trailed behind them, gracefully encircling the entire basin.

"Is this the Sacred Spring Water?" Aria asked, amazed.

"Yes," Mistral confirmed.

"When did the Aether people plant these trees?"

"The Eternal Trees are not the creation of the Aether. They have stood here long before, witnessing the passage of time. The Aether people simply found this sacred land later and settled under the protection of the Divine Tree. The blessings of the Divine Tree can dispel evil and wild beasts from the world."

Aria stared at the water, suddenly feeling a pang of sorrow for the fallen Stormblade and Daphne Blackwood. They had risked their lives to obtain a small vial of Sacred Spring Water from the Ancient Serpent Abyss, nearly being captured by the serpent guardians. She never imagined that Wind Valley would hold such a vast pool of Sacred Spring Water.

“There’s also a vial of Sacred Spring Water in the Ancient Serpent Abyss, and the Serpent Queen offers it as a reward for the victor,” Aria remarked.

“She must have obtained it from the Aether people. Sacred Spring Water exists only in Wind Valley.”

“Mistral, why did you bring me here?”

“To help you cleanse the resurrection curse from your body,” Mistral replied. “The Sacred Spring Water not only heals but purifies the impurities within you.”

Aria asked in surprise, “You mean it can remove the resurrection curse?”

Mistral tilted its head slightly. The fierce white-and-black-striped tiger at that moment looked more like a large, soft cat. Its deep amber eyes shimmered with an almost imperceptible wisdom, as if weighing whether to answer the question. Though its appearance was wild, its movements were unexpectedly gentle, as if aware that its massive frame might frighten the fragile human before it.

Yet, Aria didn’t dare let her guard down. Mistral appeared calm, but its sharp teeth and powerful limbs were a constant warning that it could turn into a deadly killing machine at any moment.

Mistral spoke slowly, its voice deep and resonant: “The power of the Eternal Tree can indeed neutralize the evil within the resurrection curse, but that is not its only function.” Its tail lightly brushed the ground, stirring a faint whisper of wind. “This tree’s roots go deep into the earth, absorbing not just life but also a deeper energy. You humans cannot fully comprehend its existence.”

Aria paused, surprised. She had assumed this beast was merely driven by instinct, but it seemed to possess a much deeper understanding.

“You’re saying the Eternal Tree is not just protecting us, but also…” Her voice trailed off in hesitation.

“It is part of this world, its power beyond what we can comprehend. Protection, purification, even healing—these are just a few of its many abilities. But for these powers to work, one must have a pure heart.” Mistral looked at her calmly, continuing, “To cleanse the evil within the resurrection curse, you must immerse yourself in the water and meditate, until the curse’s power is fully purified. This is not just about removing evil; it is a process of spiritual purification.”

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Aria thought for a moment and asked, “How long do I need to stay in the water?”

Mistral’s voice was low and measured: “The duration depends on your heart. If you have distractions, the purification process will be long and painful. If you can completely let go of your fears and doubts, the purification will be much smoother.” After speaking, Mistral slowly stood up, its strong muscles tensing beneath its fur, and then it began to walk towards the exit. It paused at the doorway, turning back to look at Aria.

“Remember my words, human.”

The massive figure gradually disappeared into the shadows beyond the door. Aria felt a warmth rising in her chest. Mistral looked fierce, but it had shown a wisdom that transcended its animal nature.

Aria followed Mistral’s instructions, letting her gown slip to the ground. Completely bare, she leaned against the raven statue before slowly sinking into the warm pool. The water caressed her skin like gentle, comforting hands, soothing her weary body. She carefully submerged her injured shoulder, feeling the warmth of the spring easing her pain, a subtle sense of relief washing over her.

The pain gradually dissipated as Aria soaked in the warmth, as if the water was absorbing her suffering. Tiny fish swam around her, their movements like wisps of fog, encircling her as if silently guarding this sacred place.

Holding her breath, Aria dipped her head beneath the water, trying to catch the elusive fish. But every time her fingers touched them, they dissolved into a hazy mist, only to reform and continue swimming gracefully. The mysterious phenomenon filled Aria with a strange sense of wonder, as though she were immersed in an incredible dream.

When Aria resurfaced, her wet hair clung to her forehead, bringing a slight chill. She looked down at her shoulder, noticing that the redness and swelling had begun to heal, the pain significantly reduced, though not entirely gone.

Leaning against the edge of the pool, her thoughts drifted back to the night she was trapped in the sarcophagus with Stormblade. Those terrifying memories remained vivid, causing her heart to race. In her unconscious state, she had seen fleeting images—were they Stormblade’s memories? The resurrection spell seemed to have connected her to those visions, and Stormblade’s expressions and words clearly indicated he was manipulating Daphne. Had he prepared Daphne for his resurrection, knowing his death was inevitable?

More questions crowded her mind. Who was the man in the Ancient Serpent Abyss who had incited Daphne? Besides Stormblade and Daphne, how many others in the Moon Tower were traitors aspiring to become Mara? These questions became increasingly difficult to answer with Stormblade and Daphne now gone.

Suddenly, Aria felt the gentle touch of the small fish swimming over her shoulder, as if they were trying to soothe her troubled heart. From the surrounding woods, the low, mournful songs of ghosts filled the air, carrying a faint sorrow, as though they lamented leaving the world of the living.

Gradually, exhaustion washed over her like a tide, and Aria rested her head against the golden raven statue, drifting into a deep sleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before a soft voice roused her from her dreams: “Aria, it’s time.”

She snapped her eyes open, nearly slipping beneath the water in her surprise. Looking toward the voice, she saw Mistral sitting quietly under a nearby tree, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. His gaze was as cold and aloof as ever, yet now it seemed to hold a touch of gentle concern.

“I’m sorry, I must have dozed off,” Aria apologized, shrinking into the water, trying not to appear too disheveled. “I only meant to meditate for a moment…”

Mistral nodded slightly, his whiskers twitching as he spoke in a deep, resonant voice: “In the Sacred Spring Water, time itself is a healing balm.”

“How long was I asleep?” Aria asked, a hint of unease creeping into her voice.

“An entire day,” Mistral replied calmly.

“A whole day?” Aria repeated in shock. She had thought she’d only closed her eyes for a moment. Glancing down at her shoulder, she saw that the wound had fully healed, the skin smooth and unscarred, as if she had never been injured.

But when she looked up, Mistral had already vanished without a sound. A sudden sense of foreboding gripped her heart, and she quickly climbed out of the pool, hastily dressing as she ran out of the cave. If she had truly been gone for a full day, Neven and Alexander would be terribly worried.

With that thought, Aria quickened her pace, her damp hair sticking to her cheeks. She emerged from the cave, her gaze sweeping across the dimly lit bridge, where she spotted a familiar figure—Neven—standing at the far end.

He stood there, the cold air seeming to freeze around him, causing Aria’s heart to sink. She stepped forward cautiously, the iron chains beneath her feet creaking softly, catching Neven’s attention. His eyes immediately locked onto her.

“Sorry, I overslept in the cave. I thought it was just for a moment, but it turned out to be a whole day,” Aria explained awkwardly. But when she looked up and met Neven’s eyes, filled with anger, her words faltered.

Neven’s lips were pressed into a thin line, and he remained silent. After a tense pause, he finally spoke in a low voice: “I thought something had happened to you, that the Aether were hiding something.”

Just as Aria was about to explain, her attention was drawn to two figures on the chain bridge above them. In the dim light of the oil lamps, Felix’s tall figure stood out. Beside him was a hooded man, so gaunt he seemed to want to melt into the darkness, clutching the edge of his hood as if trying to hide his entire face within the large cloak.

Even in the faint light, Aria caught a glimpse of gray beneath the hood. Her heart sank, and a vague face flashed through her mind, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Lucius Argent was much taller than this figure.

Her eyes remained fixed on the two figures, an increasing sense of unease gnawing at her. After a brief pause, Felix and the mysterious man silently turned and continued across the bridge, quickly disappearing into the shadows on the other side.

Neven noticed her distraction and followed her gaze toward the bridge, but by then, the two men were already gone. His brow furrowed, and he asked quietly, “What were you looking at?”

Aria pulled her gaze away and met Neven’s questioning eyes. She hesitated before murmuring, “I thought I saw someone…” But the words died in her throat as a strange fear took hold. It couldn’t be who she feared.

Neven’s frown deepened, his voice tinged with confusion. “Saw who?”

Aria shook her head slowly, trying to calm the anxiety in her heart. “No, it wasn’t him…” she whispered, as if trying to convince herself. “I must have been mistaken.”

Neven was silent for a moment, his eyes searching hers before he let the matter drop. He shifted the conversation, his tone carrying a subtle warning: “In any case, you should avoid getting too close to Mistral. Its true form isn’t what you think it is.”

“True form?” Aria felt her understanding being challenged once again. “What do you mean?”

“Mistral belongs to the Lupinor clan, an ancient and mysterious race,” Neven explained, his voice tinged with caution. “They have the innate ability to transform into beasts under certain conditions, a power born from an ancient curse. When their emotions run high or certain triggers are met, members of the Lupinor clan involuntarily transform into powerful beasts. Although they retain some human consciousness, the beast’s instincts often overwhelm their reason, pushing them to the brink of rage and madness.”