Kaito followed Thalos through the dense, towering trees, their gnarled roots weaving intricate patterns along the forest floor. The spirit moved effortlessly, its small form barely making a sound as it led the way. Kaito, on the other hand, struggled to keep up, occasionally stumbling over roots and loose rocks.

"Watch your footing, human. This forest doesn’t take kindly to outsiders," Thalos warned, not even turning to look back.

"Yeah, I noticed that when a wolf the size of a car tried to eat me," Kaito muttered, still catching his breath. He was in decent shape, but traversing an unfamiliar wilderness was far different from the mundane routine of his past life.

The forest was alive in a way that unsettled and fascinated him. Bioluminescent fungi pulsed faintly along tree trunks, their glow dimming as the daylight faded. Strange, whispering winds carried voices that weren’t quite human, as though the trees themselves conversed in hushed tones.

"How much farther?" Kaito asked, stepping carefully over a moss-covered log.

"Not much. Just beyond that ridge." Thalos motioned with his snout.

As they crested the hill, the land opened before them, revealing a valley bathed in the soft hues of twilight. At its heart lay the remains of a village—roofs caved in, walls barely standing, and vegetation reclaiming what was once man’s domain. Despite its decay, there was an undeniable beauty to it. Fireflies flickered amidst the ruins, their golden light giving the place an almost ethereal glow.

Kaito inhaled deeply, the scent of damp wood and earth filling his lungs. He could almost picture what the village must have been like in its prime—children running through the streets, merchants calling out their wares, blacksmiths hammering away at molten iron. Now, it stood as a relic of the past, waiting for someone to breathe life into it once more.

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"This is Elderwood Village," Thalos said, hopping onto a stone pillar covered in vines. "A hundred years ago, it was a prosperous settlement. But after a series of monster attacks and a failing harvest, the people abandoned it. No one’s dared to return since."

Kaito nodded slowly. "Monsters, huh? Anything worse than that wolf that tried to turn me into dinner?"

Thalos snorted. "A few things. But they don’t linger here often. Too much residual magic in the land. That’s why it hasn’t been completely swallowed by nature yet."

Kaito took a step forward, brushing his fingers against the stone pillar. The moment his skin made contact, a strange sensation coursed through him—a deep, thrumming pulse, like the heartbeat of the land itself. He pulled his hand away instinctively, eyes wide.

"You felt it, didn’t you?" Thalos asked, observing him with knowing eyes.

Kaito swallowed. "Yeah. What was that?"

"This land remembers," Thalos said cryptically. "And it recognizes you."

Kaito frowned. "Recognizes me? But I just got here."

Thalos shook his head. "Not you, specifically. Your magic. Worldweavers have an innate bond with the land, and the land responds in kind. If you focus, you might be able to wake this village up from its slumber."

Kaito exhaled slowly, stepping into what was once the village square. The remains of a well stood in the center, its stones worn smooth by time. He closed his eyes and stretched out his senses, reaching for that same connection he had felt earlier.

The ground beneath him hummed.

He could feel the decay, the way nature had slowly crept in, reclaiming space where humanity had once thrived. But beneath the ruin, there was potential—fertile soil, solid foundations, remnants of a place that longed to be whole again.

He knelt and placed both hands against the ground. "Alright," he murmured, focusing. "Let’s see what I can do."

At first, there was only silence. Then, a gentle ripple spread outward, as if the very earth had taken a deep breath. Vines receded ever so slightly, broken stones shifted into place, and the air itself seemed to lighten. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make Kaito’s heart race.

He grinned. "I think I can work with this."

Thalos let out a chuckle. "Well, well. Looks like you might not be hopeless after all."

As the last light of the sun dipped below the horizon, Kaito sat back, gazing at the quiet, broken village that would soon become his home. It was a daunting task, but for the first time since waking in this world, he felt something he hadn’t in a long, long time—

Hope.