They were right. There was something else in that mana… or rather it was mana of a different person.

Strangely though, it also felt familiar to me. Wasn’t like no one’s I’ve been in contact with recently, no. It was just like some brief memory I had buried somewhere deep in my brain.

Besides that, there was nothing else there. No sign of spell, no nothing. It was just pure mana, like someone poured it towards the wall and…

And what?

Was it destroyed and they just fixed it, like me with the sculpture?

Nah. Couldn’t be it.

With the sculpture, I did pour a significant amount and yet it was completely gone already. There was no way that if someone had done the same thing that the signs wouldn’t be far gone.

I mean, it could be that the damage was so extensive that even though it was a long time ago the traces were still lingering… No. Couldn't be. If that was the case, I would be able to feel that strange mana all over the wall at least. Same with Kon and For. There wouldn’t just be a singular spot.

-It’s only here, right…? - I asked, at the same time moving my finger around, trying to check myself.

-Yes. You already moved away from it…

-Hm. I see… - I muttered, thinking.

-Any ideas? - asked For. - What’s that?

-Well, as far as I can tell, it looks like someone had poured a bit of mana towards this point… and that’s it - I simply said.

-That’s it? But what for? There’s some kind of spell there? Or anything?

-I have no clue - I said, shrugging. - But that’s not a problem. We can just try out a small experiment and do the same…

-Are you…

I was not waiting for their acceptance, nor would they even be able to give it to me most likely.

I conjured an orb of mana the size of my thumb and just hovered it in front of the spot.

There was no reaction.

-Wait, don’t! - protested For. - What if something…

I was not listening.

Surprisingly, Kon was not protesting at all, instead was looking at the spot with anticipation.

I pushed the orb towards the wall, effectively infusing the wood with my own mana.

At first I thought nothing was happening.

But Kon immediately noticed. I did too, but it was a lot harder for me to see the change, it was so quick and brief.

Mana that got infused, moved from the spot we singled out towards the floor and jumped right towards the sculpted throne and the figure.

For a second I did think that I'd just launched some kind of security and the statue was about to stand up or something, but nope.

It did start glowing, though.

The three of us instantly turned towards it and took a defensive stance, expecting some kind of attack. Rob was oblivious to the whole thing, just staring at us slack-jawed.

But, nothing of that sort came out.

Instead, the glow slowly subsided and instead appeared right next to where I touched the wall.

A shape… a circular shape? It looked like a whole lot of the wall got suddenly more infused, just to slowly start peeling away and opening itself, showing us the way out.

-Huh… that’s something… - I said in the silence that came after the way had been opened.

The statue was already completely dim as before, as nothing happened.

-Good job… - muttered For, amazed. - I expected that to go a lot worse…

-Honestly, me too - I admitted.

-I never expected for a spell to be concealed that way - said Kon, touching the side of the wall where the opening was.

-I don’t think that was hidden, really… - I muttered. - But it doesn’t matter… we probably should move…

The way that was opened led to some kind of a dark corridor, circular as the opening that appeared in front of us. I couldn’t tell how far it was going, I only could say that it was slowly climbing.

-Right… shall we explore a bit? - I asked and not waiting for confirmation walked inside, letting my companions follow.

They weren’t without reservations, but none of them wanted to be left behind in that room, so they carefully started walking behind me.

As soon as the last one entered the corridor, that being For who was escorting Rob, still tied, I felt another bit of mana behind us.

Quickly turning, I realized that the way was closing behind us, the same way as it opened.

For leaped behind, trying to stop it, but there was no point. While opening was slow and methodical, the way it closed it felt just like someone had dropped a curtain.

And so, we were left in a closed, dark corridor.

Before that, I couldn’t help but notice.

Just as the way was closing, I managed to get a glimpse of the sculpture we left behind. RIght in the middle of the room, it was looking right at the pathway with its featureless face.

But, it was no longer featureless. Right on its face there was a pair of white, glowing eyes, just like gems.

Was it just mana playing tricks on me?

Who knows.

-Well, I guess we have nothing else but to go forward… - I announced.

-I can always teleport us away… - said Kon. - I still have those crystals…

-True. But that’s for later, if we don’t find anything here.

-What are we looking for exactly? - asked For. - I don’t think… Where are we even?

-That’s the number one question we are trying to find an answer to - I said. - And how else than just to take a peek outside?

-I mean…

-Come on, where’s your sense of adventure? - I said, half-heartedly. - We can tell if anyone is approaching us, and not like we need provisions or something.

-True…

And so, we started walking forward.

I want to say we were moving swiftly, but there was a slight issue with that one.

Rob.

Our “friend” apparently had issues walking. And I don’t mean it because he was tied. Sure, I thought so at first, but soon we realized that was not the problem.

We were walking in complete darkness.

It did not occur to any of us to actually create some kind of light: we could see as well as normal, or rather we were using our enhanced senses to feel out the way. I mean, it was already something that I was doing constantly, so I was sort of surprised that neither Kon nor For were complaining and just went ahead with it.

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Were they also relying on that?

Accidentally or not, they were enhanced by the crystal, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised…

I did create a small orb of light to hasten our walk a bit.

It also confirmed that, even though he was apparently very old, Rob’s crystal was not as developed as ours.

It was strange. Kon, even though he had his for what, months? I don’t know for sure, my perception of time since being stranded in the desert was a bit skewed. Kon was proficient with it as well as me by now.

Was he for some reason also resistant to the influence of the crystal? Just like Mike? I mean, supposedly.

He was made out of his piece, after all, it wouldn’t be that surprising that he’d take on his attributes.

But, wasn’t For also that way? If my theories were correct, she was also made by him, and probably integrating with her piece for a similar amount of time to him.

No… something else was at play.

I put that problem on the backburner, because after a while we reached something new: a set of stairs.

For the whole length, the corridor was rising slowly but steadily in incline, to the point where it started getting hard to walk, and it soon transitioned to a set of long stairs.

Well, nothing interesting, right? Just another part of the way.

Not exactly.

I walked maybe five or so steps before I noticed something wrong.

I started hearing the steps creak… and sizzle?

Okay, creaking was somewhat normal, I wasn’t the lightest person in the world, really, but sizzle?

One look down was enough to understand what was going on, though.

I was corroding the wood.

Not unexpected, but after landing in such a strange environment I sort of forgot that I had the ability to drain everything around me to the point of destruction.

-That’s problema…

I didn’t even get to finish the sentence before the steps under me collapsed and sent me tumbling down.

On the way I almost collected everyone behind me, but luckily For’s reflexes were enough for her to grab Kon and pull him up, where the stairs haven't collapsed yet.

I did fall right on top of Rob though, rolling down. Good for him that it was just a few steps, because he only ended up with some bruises and drained mana and not completely crushed under my weight.

-...tic.

-Are you okay?! - asked For from above me. - What happened?!

-We’re good - I replied, standing up. - That was my fault… I kind of forgot about my ability…

-Your abil… you drained the stairs?!

-Yep.

-I thought that this wood was resistant?! What’s going on? - asked Kon.

-I guess it was… but only closer to the source, I assume - I said after a moment of thought. - No matter. Just give me a second…

I turned back and remembered that I still had Rob with me.

But, he was already up and standing. And his binds were undone.

Right. During my fall I did feel some mana that got absorbed into me, but I didn’t realize that it was my own spell being drained. I had to not only touch him, but also the binds that I tied him up with.

I immediately readied a spell to bind him again, expecting some kind of retaliation from him, but he just raised his hands.

-Don’t! I am not going to run!

I gazed at him, curious.

-Well, it’s not like you have anywhere to go… - I pointed out.

-Yes, but… Please! I’ll cooperate.

-You heard that? - I thought towards For and Kon.

-Yeah…

-That’s… weird….

-Right? He’s so docile…

-Pff. That’s one way to put it.

-I know you can kill me in a blink of an eye! Please! There’s three of you! I’ll behave!

-Why such a change? - I asked. - My binds were too tight or something?

-I mean… a little, but that’s besides the point! I just…

-Let him be - thought For. - It’s not like he can harm you…

-Yeah, but what about you?

-I can defend myself. And I also can feel his mana. Same as you. Before he’s able to attack we’ll notice.

-And not like he’s planning on that… - added Kon.

-You can tell?

-I mean… sort of…

-Hm. Your ability evolved so much already…?

-Evolved?

-Never mind. Well, it’s your decision. But, besides that - I added - it’s going to be hard to climb up with him tied up…

-Fine, fine. It’s your lucky day.

He visibly relaxed.

-Yeah, about that, how are you getting up here?

-Not a problem.

-Some spell? Can you fly or something?

-Well, sort of but not what I had in mind… - I replied, eyeing the broken wood.

My fall didn’t destroy the stairwell completely.

The corridor wasn’t just some hollow piece of wood, it looked like the whole place was carved from one large slab of wood. Or, should I say, grown from one piece.

I already was familiar enough with Axelrod’s country’s way of making buildings and using green magic to create similar things, so it wasn’t that surprising. That also meant that my fall, instead of leaving a completely ruined piece of scaffolding, just carved a way down akin to a slide. A bit of a rough one, but still, there were remaining stairs on the sides, so with proper maneuvering it was possible to climb up.

That is if I wasn’t going to drain and decay them again.

I looked down at my feet.

Where I was standing, nothing was going on. Apparently where I stood the presence of the… “origin wood” was still strong enough for it to be resistant to my drain.

-Rob, give me your shirt.

-Whaa…?

He couldn’t hide his confusion.

-What? If you are so keen on cooperating, get moving.

-I… Okay… But why?

Not answering, I just grabbed the clothes he gave me and started ripping it to shreds.

-What are you doing!?

I wrapped the pieces of his clothes around my feet and hands, so I could step without fear of destroying the floor again.

As soon as he noticed what I was doing he sighed.

-You could’ve just asked me for the wraps…

Right. He had some of those remaining. Not like I was changing my mind though.

-Can you climb? - I asked, ignoring his opinion.

-Er… Maybe? I don’t think it’s far…

-I meant with your leg. Of course it’s not far, but I can’t judge your mobility correctly with that thing.

-Ah, well, yeah, I should be fine…

-Get moving then.

I pushed him gently forward, towards the ruined stairs.

I mean, I tried to be gentle but I almost made him fall down face first onto the splintered wood.

-I am moving, I am moving! Stop!

-Mhm.

I wasn’t wrong about having doubts about his mobility.

Sure, we had enough room to somewhat cross, but it got a bit shaky once or twice.

I, on the other hand, had no problems, which surprised me the most. Last time I climbed something I had pretty hard time moving up, but now I quickly managed to get past the gap and join them above.

-Hm… you’re agile… - pointed out the obvious change Kon.

-Yeah… I thought with that crystal you’d have a lot more problems… - said For. - Good that it wasn’t the case.

-I am as surprised as you are. But hey, I am not complaining. Let’s get moving, hopefully with those - I said, pointing to my wrapped feet - I am not going to create another cave-in.

-Hopefully. We probably should find you some set of clothes. Or at least half-decent shoes.

-That’d be handy.

The rest of the climb was uneventful.

About ten minutes later we emerged at the end of the corridor, and this time we were greeted with an actual door.

Large and sturdy, but still wooden, it was blocking our path.

-Closed? Want me to break it or… - I asked, but before I was able to say anything, Kon lowered his hand towards the handle and I felt a surge of mana from him.

I didn’t hear any spell, but I noticed that from his palm a small vine emerged and dug itself in between the frame and the door.

-Hmm…

Something on the other side moved, and the door opened.

-Nice… - I said as he removed his hand. - Who taught you that?

-It’s…

He hesitated.

-I… I don’t know. I just thought that could work… - he replied, a bit confused.

-Well, doesn’t matter. Good that it worked.

We emerged in another corridor.

This one was a bit more open, with sets of doors on one side, while on the other there were just a couple of small circular windows with the very familiar membrane replacing the glass.

Of course, I immediately looked through to see where exactly we were… and was stunned.

We were on the third floor of a large tree. VERY large tree. The roots below were spreading in a circular pattern, and where those ended there was a rather large city made out of yet more trees, or rather strange tree-houses that had some of the canopies connected together by various pathways and bridges.

I’ve seen that before.

-Arbo.