The Ancient, Sara Madre's protector for more than a hundred years, helped Jio and Bm despite the damage they made to the forest.

*So it's time... It started... I'll see you soon* The Ancient thought while carrying the two back home to have proper rest on a warm and comforting bed and food to fill their energy when they wake up.

"Sierra will be happy to see an old friend," The Ancient let out as he loudly laughs.

Back home, a girl with flowery hair, green eyes, and a fairy-like facial feature but not as mature as Bm waits patiently for the two to wake up. This girl has nature's aura, and the plants seem to point towards her direction.

"Father, she is so beautiful! I can feel her aura, and I know it's my old Gecko friend. Is she my old Gecko friend?" Sierra asks her father, the Ancient, since Bm's face changed significantly.

"Yes, she is your childhood friend, and she's stronger," the Ancient replies and continues, "She does look like a human; it might be because of her training."

"It's weird; they both look humans," Sierra let out and poked Jio's cheek.

"Oh, that one? He's a human male," The Ancient said as Sierra jumped back away from Jio and continued, "Your friend's lover, what about you? Do you like anyone in the forest?"

Sierra looks at the Ancient blushing and wants to say something, but no words come out of her mouth, and luckily, Bm wakes up, "She's awake! She's awake!"

Waking up confused and somewhat weak, Bm remembers everything and instinctively looks for Jio until she recognizes the Ancient and Sierra's aura around her. She looks around and sees her old friend and the Ancient thinking that her life is flashing through her eyes at the moment before she dies.

"Am I dreaming?" Bm asks the Ancient, and Sierra immediately hugs her, "Sierra! I miss you so much."

Bm accepts Sierra's embrace even if this is a dream.

"No, you're alive and well," the Ancient replies and assures, "On the other hand, I don't know when will Jio wake up, but he's in good condition. You don't need to worry."

Stolen novel; please report.

Bm nods and looks at Sierra, thinking how they end up back home and wondering how the Ancient know Jio's name. She looks at Jio and approaches him with Sierra, ensuring he's unharmed from the action he took to defeat the Dark One. She examined Jio's body from head to toe and found nothing and everything normal.

"Don't worry; my father said you have nothing to worry about," Sierra ensures and takes Bm's hand, inviting her to explore the forest and see what changed during her adventures away from home.

In Jio's dream, he only sees darkness, and this darkness seems to attempt to devour his body, but he controls the energy within the darkness and prevents the same power that wants to take him down. To Jio's knowledge, he's been in this cold and desolate place for more than a year fighting for his life. Anyone in Jio's situation would lose their mind and find themselves defeated by the nothingness, but he persists and endures whatever comes in his way.

For the whole week, Bm sleeps beside Jio and watches over him until he wakes up one morning confused, just like the day Bm wakes up.

*You're awake* Bm happily thought, smiling in front of Jio.

*This might be heaven... An angel... Bm... Guess we die that day, and I need to fight my way to heaven... It's worth it! To be with her* Jio thought as he touched her face until he heard someone walking in the room.

"Jio's awake!" Sierra said and approached the two.

*Bm already made a friend in heaven? Guess Im lucky that Bm waited for me* Jio thought, and Bm started introducing him to her friend.

"Hey, you. You're finally awake," Bm let out and introduced Sierra, "This is my childhood friend, Sierra."

"Hello," Sierra lets out as she promptly waves her hand.

"Hello... Are we dead?" Jio asks, looking around and can feel the abundant energy.

"Silly you. We're alive, and we teleported here, and I don't know how and I can't complain," Bm stands up and assists Jio to stand.

"Sounds good to me! Where are we anyway?" Jio asks, accepting that they are alive without asking how they survived as he walks with Bm and Sierra.

Bm and Sierra give Jio a tour and explain that they don't take any human kindly, but the Ancient has a change of heart and let him live. The girls also reveal that the continent's situation, like who controls the land and the politics.

Sierra leaves the two together after she hears her father calling for her, and Bm and Jio keep walking deeper in the forest towards the Gecko village. Jio follows Bm since anyone who wanders the forest will lose their way and never get back home. After an hour, less vegetation grows on this part of the forest and is ten times harsher than the Ancient's place as Jio asks Bm about the location.

"As a Gecko, our body requires to challenged every day if we want to get stronger. For example, a Gecko in the volcano's crater can eventually swim in the lava; it takes time though... maybe around a year," Bm explains as she leads the way.

"Can you swim in the lava?" Jio asks Bm, but she only smiles without answering the question, and this always gets Jio but somewhat likes it and knows the answer with one look from her.

To be Continued,