Oapa stopped in his tracks, his gaze locking onto a towering tree marked with intricate Mu engravings. He ran his paw-like hand over the markings, his touch deliberate and reverent. “This will do,” he said, his voice calm but laced with anticipation.

Lirin, who had been observing the scene with folded arms, smirked.

“Haven’t seen you use this one in a while, Oapa,” she said casually. “You always go for the fancy entrances.”

Oapa ignored her, crossing his arms and beginning to mutter foreign words. His voice, deep and rhythmic, seemed to resonate with the air itself. The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, a low rumble spreading through the forest as if the earth were waking from a slumber.

The massive trees around them shifted, their trunks pulling back as the scenery blurred and reformed. Leaves scattered in a whirlwind, and the forest seemed to twist and reshape itself in response to Oapa’s chant.

When the rumbling stopped, everything fell silent.

They now stood on a circular platform glowing faintly with natural luminescence. Around them were the largest trees they had ever seen, their trunks impossibly wide and their tops disappearing into a dense, glittering canopy. The trees radiated life, their bark faintly pulsating with light, and the sky above felt far, far away—as though they had stepped into another world entirely.

Si-Woo took a slow breath, his gaze climbing the towering giants. “These trees… they make the sky feel out of reach,” he murmured.

Oapa, his voice calm and reverent, gestured upward. “These are no ordinary trees. They’re homes to us higher sprits."

“Higher sprits,” Ha-Yoon whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

Tiny large figures flitted among the branches, their strong forms walking along the trunks. “This is beautiful,” Mai said softly.

Lirin, having been here before, shrugged as if it were nothing new. “Wait until you see the mansion,” she said, pointing ahead.

In the near distance stood an unmistakable mansion, its massive structure seamlessly interwoven with two colossal trees. Its walls seemed to grow naturally from the wood, blending perfectly with the environment. Smaller shelters surrounded the mansion, their roofs crafted from shimmering leaves that caught the faint, iridescent light filtering through the canopy.

“Wow,” Ha-Yoon said, her gaze fixed on the sight.

Lirin glanced at her and smirked. “Pretty, right? Oapa’s family has a flair for making everything look... magical.”

Si-Woo couldn’t help but marvel. “It’s incredible,” he murmured, though his thoughts flickered briefly to the Mu engravings that had led them here.

As the group moved through the breathtaking new environment, Ha-Yoon’s attention was drawn upward to the faint, flickering colors in the air—soft hues of blue, green, and gold that danced like living light. Her gaze followed the movement of small, glowing figures flitting among the towering branches.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“Those must be young faeries,” she said, her voice filled with awe.

Mai tilted her head, observing the same glowing shapes. “They’re beautiful,” she whispered. “It’s like the air here is alive.”

Oapa nodded, his tone calm but carrying a note of pride. “The young faeries make their homes in these sacred trees. They’re drawn to the purity of the environment and the protection the sprits provide.”

As they continued toward the mansion, the tranquility was interrupted by the sudden appearance of two sprit guards. Dressed in black uniforms bearing a golden claw insignia on their right shoulders, they seemed to materialize from the shadows, their movements swift and silent.

Si-Woo instinctively reached toward where his kunai, Eternity, was secured but stopped short as he noticed the guards’ calm yet imposing posture.

One of the guards, taller and broader than the other, stepped forward, his glowing green eyes sweeping over the group. “Oapa,” he said in a low, gravelly voice, “you’ve brought outsiders into our territory?”

Oapa met his gaze without hesitation. “They’re under my escort,” he said firmly, his relaxed demeanor giving way to quiet authority. “I take full responsibility for their presence here.”

The shorter guard stepped forward, his piercing eyes scanning each member of the group before settling on Si-Woo. His gaze lingered for a moment, then he spoke. “Where is the whiteblood wyvern? It was with you before.”

Si-Woo hesitated before responding. “Z… flew off before we entered the portal. I think he’ll find his way back when he’s ready.”

The taller guard exchanged a glance with his companion, then gave a short nod. “Very well,” he said, his tone neutral. “Follow us. The elders have been informed of your arrival.”

The group fell into step behind the guards, their silent, purposeful movements adding an air of tension to the already otherworldly atmosphere.

Lirin, walking beside Si-Woo, leaned closer and muttered, “They like to act intimidating. Don’t let it get to you.”

Mai offered a small smile of reassurance. “Oapa wouldn’t have brought us here if he thought we were in danger.”

As they followed the sprit guards through the ethereal forest, Si-Woo couldn’t help but replay the exchange in his mind. Finally, he leaned toward Lirin, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

“How did the guards know I brought Z?” he asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Lirin tilted her head, considering the question for a moment before smirking. “Sprits have a way of sensing creatures,” she replied. “Especially ones as rare as your wyvern. Z’s presence probably left an imprint on the environment.”

“An imprint?” Si-Woo echoed, glancing around at the massive trees surrounding them.

Lirin nodded. “Yeah. Think of it like… leaving a signature behind. Bonds like Z have a strong energy, and sprits are extremely in tune with that kind of thing. Even if Z isn’t here right now, they could probably tell he was with you recently just by the way the air feels.”

Si-Woo digested this, a mixture of awe and unease settling over him. “That’s... impressive,” he admitted, though the idea of leaving an invisible trail made him feel slightly exposed.

Oapa, overhearing their conversation, glanced back with a small smile. “Lirin’s explanation is accurate,” he said. “But there’s more to it. The guards are trained to recognize specific creatures that enter our territory. They would’ve known Z was a whiteblood wyvern the moment he passed through the portal—even if he didn’t stay long.”

Mai, walking beside Ha-Yoon, chimed in with a teasing grin. “Z’s reputation precedes him, I guess. Makes sense for such a show-off.”

Si-Woo couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment, though he still found himself wondering where Z had gone. The wyvern always seemed to have a mind of his own, but he hoped his bond would return soon.

The conversation faded as the group approached the towering mansion. The glowing lights in the air seemed to pulse rhythmically, creating an almost hypnotic effect. Si-Woo couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer scale and beauty of the structure.

“Welcome to the heart of the sprit kingdom,” Oapa said, gesturing to the mansion as they reached its base. “Let’s not keep the elders waiting.”