The morning after the battle felt different. The sunlight filtering through the entrance of my cave seemed brighter, more inviting, as if the forest itself had taken a deep breath and sighed in relief. I stretched my sore limbs, still feeling the echoes of yesterday's fight coursing through my body.

I saw a small system notification at the edge of my vision, but I ignored it as I went about my morning routine. For some reason the cave felt emptier, quieter. It wasn't until I was munching on some fruits that I noticed the silence wasn't just in my head.

“Tom?”

I called out, expecting a witty retort or at least some sign of his presence, but my voice echoed off the walls of the cave, unanswered. A flicker of concern ignited within me. I moved through the cave, my gaze scanning every corner, every shadow, for the familiar glow of the spirit cat. But there was nothing; the cave was just a cave, devoid of any snarky forest spirits.

With a growing sense of unease, I stepped outside, my eyes sweeping the surrounding forest. The gentle rustle of leaves felt oddly mute without Tom's glowing form darting around or perched on a branch, watching me with his amused, all-knowing gaze.

It was only then that I opened the system notification that I ignored earlier.

Blessing of the forest received.

Name

Juniper

Race

Dragon

Growth

Cub

Body

3

Classes

Level

Reflexes

6

First

Phytomancer

7

Cool

2 (+1)

Second

Explorer

4

Mind

8

Third

none

-

Mysticism (racial)

3 (+2)

Fourth

none

-

The realization hit me then, slow and heavy like the falling of a giant sequoia.

“Tom?” I shouted this time.

He couldn’t possibly be gone right? He said he would train me to fight the seraphyte…

As I mulled over the thought, an idea struck me.

“System, when did I receive the blessing?”

Answer. User received the blessing 5 hours and 27 minutes ago.

While I was sleeping… Why not wait until I was awake?

“System, where is the spirit that gave me the blessing?”

No answer. If Tom gave me the blessing in the middle of the night there must have been a reason.

Did his energy run out?

“System, do blessings consume a large amount of energy?”

Answer. While I can’t precisely quantify the amount of energy expended for User’s blessing, User is correct in assuming that it was no small amount.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I paced back and forth, trying to piece together the fragments of information. If blessings required such a significant energy expenditure, why did he use his blessing now? I remembered something he had mentioned when we first met. His cat-like body was an avatar, not his true body. If he had truly expended such a large amount of his leftover energy to give me the blessing, maybe he just didn’t have enough left to maintain the cat form.

But the stupid cat never told me where his core is!

I kept pacing, frustratingly moving up and down the hill of my cave.

Think, Juniper. There must be a way to find him.

Suddenly, the realization hit me and I started sprinting into the underbrush. The forest blurred past me as I ran, the wind whipping through my scales. I could feel the effects of my new level in the Trailblazer ability. My eyes easily scanned the terrain in front of me, every step was calculated as I ran through the fastest trail I could find.

My heart pounded, not just from the exertion but from the mix of hope and fear that battled within me. If there was even the slightest chance I could find Tom's core, I had to take it. My mind raced as I navigated the familiar paths, the terrain becoming increasingly rugged as I neared the heart of the forest.

This was where we had spent many days training, where Tom had taught me to connect with the forest, to listen to its silent whispers and understand its subtle cues. If I was to find his core, this was the place to start, his birthplace.

The spiral clearing where we had practiced came into view. The heart of the forest looked untouched and serene, pulsating with its natural energy. I slowed to a stop, my gaze sweeping over the area, searching for any sign of Tom's presence.

After searching the area, I wasn’t surprised that I came up empty handed. Tom had mentioned the seraphyte holding his core captive, so it made sense for it not to be too close to my training ground.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. If direct searching wasn't yielding any results, perhaps a broader, more connected approach was necessary. I stepped into the middle of the spiral, the spot where I had first truly connected with the forest's energy. Closing my eyes, I reached out with my senses, much like Tom had taught me, only this time, I aimed to extend my reach further than ever before.

Connecting to the forest on such a large scale was overwhelming. The life around me buzzed with energy, each plant, each tree, a voice in a vast chorus. To avoid collapsing under the immense flow of information, I focused on filtering most of the noise, searching for anything that felt out of place, for a presence that resembled Tom's.

The task was mentally taxing. I moved my consciousness across the forest, briefly connecting with the plant life, not lingering in any one location for too long. As minutes turned into what felt like hours, fatigue began to set in, blurring the edges of my concentration. Just as I was about to give up, I sensed it, a pure and familiar presence amidst the cacophony of the forest's life force.

It was faint, easy to miss, but unmistakably Tom's. The connection was weak, but it pulsed with the same warmth I had come to associate with him. Following the sensation, I honed in on the location, my heart racing with anticipation and dread.

Tom's core was indeed alive, its glow dim but persistent. However, wrapped around it was another presence, its tendrils siphoning energy from the core in a slow, constant drain.

That must be the seraphyte Tom spoke about.

I immediately severed my connection to the forest and released a deep sigh of relief.

Phytomancer - Experience +50

I quickly dismissed the system notification as I took a moment to catch my breath. Scanning the forest had taken a big toll on my mind, yet the sight of Tom’s core pulsating with life filled me with the determination I needed to push forward.

Now I knew where to go. For the next step I had to figure out a way to defeat that serpent.

With newfound purpose fueling my steps, I began running towards the location of Tom's core. As I moved, my mind was a whirlwind of strategy and concern. Tom had warned me about the strength of the seraphyte, so I had to be smart about this.

He had shared stories of the seraphyte's abilities, from its size and physical prowess, to its acid spitting ability. Drawing from these tales, I pieced together a plan. Just like with the crab queen, brute force wouldn’t be effective against the seraphyte's defenses, so I had to proceed with precision and cunning.

As the dense foliage of the forest gave way to the thicket where Tom's core resided, I slowed my pace. Stealth was essential now. The seraphyte might be aware of my approach, but I couldn't afford to give it any advantages.

Crouching low, I moved through the bushes, my senses alert for any sign of the seraphyte's presence. The forest seemed eerily silent, as if the natural symphony of wildlife had hushed in anticipation of the looming confrontation.

Peering through the greenery, I finally caught sight of it. A dark, writhing mass was enveloping a faintly glowing object, Tom’s core. The seraphyte's tendrils pulsed with a sickly energy, clearly feeding off Tom's essence. Anger flared within me at the sight, but I quashed it, focusing instead on the task at hand.

I recalled the spirit’s lessons on the importance of understanding and harmony within the forest. If I was to free his core, I needed to tap into that same harmony, to use the forest not as a weapon, but as an ally.

Stealthily, I circled the area, keeping the seraphyte in my sight while staying hidden within the cloak of the forest. I observed its movements, the way it coiled around the core, drawing energy in a slow, parasitic manner.

First, I needed to distract the seraphyte, to draw it away from Tom's core without alerting it to my true intentions. I mentally willed the bushes and leaves on the further edge of the thicket to create a sudden commotion. The cacophonous sounds of rustling vegetation filled the air, and the seraphyte curiously lifted its head, its attention successfully diverted.

The serpent’s gaze was turned away, but the noise wasn’t enough to make it move in its direction.

Come on, you stupid snake.

I concentrated more deeply, looking for anything that could help me distract the creature further. I focused on a decently sized branch and swayed it back and forth a few times, until I felt it cracking. Just like with the crab nest, I suddenly pushed it downwards with great force, causing it to break. The branch fell and hit the ground with a loud thud followed by more snapping noises.

Finally, this action was enough for the seraphyte to become somewhat startled, its attention now fully focused on the direction of the noise. After a few moments of contemplation, the serpent finally uncoiled from the core and started slithering towards the underbrush. I waited until the end of its tail was out of sight and quickly sprinted towards the core.

The core was encased within a wooden pedestal that seemed to have grown around it, a natural prison that held it tight. As I approached, I could feel the energy emanating from it, slowly pulsating with faint life.

“Tom?” I whispered.

“If you can hear me, give me a sign.”

No response came from the core, but I didn’t relent. Without hesitation, I reached out to dislodge it, my claws attempting to snatch it from its natural case.

It was at that moment that I felt the ambiance shift. An eerie silence enveloped the clearing, the noise from the leaves had stopped. My instincts screamed a warning, and I hurled myself to the side just in time as a stream of acid where I had just stood sizzled against the ground, eating away at the foliage it touched.

Whipping around, I came face to face with the seraphyte. Its massive form loomed, larger and more menacing than I had imagined. The seraphyte's scales glistened with a toxic sheen under the forest's light, its eyes a pair of glowing embers filled with malice.

As it towered above me, I understood the gravity of the situation I was in. There was no avoiding the confrontation now.

I took a quick glance at the pulsating core next to me.

You hang tight, snarky cat, I’ll get you out of here.

https://i.imgur.com/k9fJWsb.jpeg [https://i.imgur.com/k9fJWsb.jpeg]