Marshmallow woke up in the shelter, still enveloped in darkness. The faint light of the lantern was still there. How long had he slept? Maybe 2 hours? Or maybe more? The only thing he knew was that he still felt the weight of tiredness upon him as if the sleep hadn't been enough.

"But how can you rest well if you sleep on a cold, damp stone slab?" He answered himself.

Looking around, he noticed that the light from the artifact was no longer shining in his hands. He was puzzled for a moment. Had the artifact run out of energy? Or perhaps there was something in his environment that was affecting its power.

Glancing at the inert artifact, Marshmallow shook his head. He couldn't waste precious time on something like that, and he wouldn't discover anything anyway. He threw it to the ground and left it there in the darkness. He had to prepare himself to go deeper into the tunnel. He began to gather the remaining food and carefully put it into his backpack. There was not much left: an apple, a half-eaten piece of cheese, and the untouched dried meat. As for the water, there was about a liter and a half left.

"The dried meat will be the one that spoils the slowest," he reasoned. In no time, he had neatly arranged everything he had, now he could set off.

I can't know how long I'll have to stay in this damned labyrinth. Better to be prepared.

Marshmallow's thoughts returned to the lantern, the object that had become his lifeline in this intricate labyrinth of roots and shadows. With determination, he went back through the tunnel he had entered and soon found himself on the main path again. Now he could see the luminous path extending into the tunnel, and instantly, the lantern of flow began to shine with a dazzling green light.

He noted, with relief, the absence of the Evolveroaches. He looked around inquisitively, making sure those cursed beasts were gone.

"They're not here anymore," he concluded. Had they gone to sleep? It was quite strange.

Marshmallow resumed his descent into the subterranean maze, following the increasingly intense trail of light. As he progressed, he noticed how the massive roots of the Shining Tree rose all around, weaving a more intricate labyrinth of shadows and beams of light.

The path became more complex, and his attention was caught by another satyr figure hidden in the depths of the crevices.

And who is that?

In the ethereal atmosphere, Marshmallow found a satyr trapped behind a root arch, in the same pose he had found Eilana. Thus, the forest satyrs are scattered throughout the Shining Tree. The slender form and facial features were typical of his species, and his eyes, shining in the twilight of the leaves, met Marshmallow's.

"Greetings, stranger," said the satyr Silvanus in a soothing, deep voice that echoed like a call of the forest. "My name is Silvanus. You seem like a traveler from far away. Have you come from above?"

Marshmallow stared at Silvanus with scrutinizing eyes, carefully studying the figure before him. He seemed to be the male version of Eilana. "I'm Marshmallow," he said in a measured tone, "What are you doing here hidden away? Could you have something useful for me?" He paused as if trying to read beyond appearances. Then, as his face lit up, the question came spontaneously. "Wait... are you the Hidden Keeper?"

Silvanus shook his head. "I'm just a guardian of these ancient paths," he replied, observing the lantern that Marshmallow held. "I see you possess the Lantern of Flow, an object of rare fortune."

Marshmallow looked at him for a moment. While scrutinizing him, he wondered why the programmers had decided to make these satyrs speak as if they had a stick up their butt.

"Yes, it's been helpful so far," he replied, tightening his grip on the lantern slightly. "It shows me the way. I want to reach the queen as quickly as possible and avoid those disgusting cockroaches."

Silvanus nodded with a gentle smile. "Beneath the Shining Tree are underground passages that can lead you where you wish, away from the dangers of the Evolveroaches."

Marshmallow listened with interest. The prospect of avoiding further dangerous encounters was tempting. He could have gathered experience, but killing cockroaches leveled him up too slowly. To level up for the first time, he would have had to kill thousands. On the other hand, the Grimgoat... would indeed yield great Exp. Queen Luminara would provide him with the key to defeat it. Moreover, the fatigue of continuous battles had begun to take its toll, and the idea of a shortcut seemed almost too good to be true.

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"And what about the Grimgoat? Do you have any information that might help me?"

"Ah, the Grimgoat," Silvanus seemed to reflect for a moment. "It's a fearsome beast, but its rage does not extend into the underground of the Shining Tree. These depths hide secrets and precious resources. Exploring them, you might discover something invaluable for confronting it."

Marshmallow stood there, his head spinning.

This guy continues to talk like he has a stick up his butt. Annoying.

Following the flow had been Eilana's fundamental suggestion, advice that until then had seemed as precious as gold. And now? Here's Silvanus suggesting he nose around those depths, almost as if wanting to overturn the game table.

"Oh God," Marshmallow muttered, feeling like he was about to make one of those decisions that changed your day. Just earlier, he had found the Custodian's cave by chance.

Looks like I have to jump into the unknown. Let's do it!

Following Silvanus's suggestion could turn out to be a stroke of genius or a colossal blunder, but there was no other way to find out than to dive in.

"Thank you for the advice," Marshmallow responded with a half-smile. As he pondered Silvanus's words, the satyr extended his arms forward in a friendly gesture. "Before you continue your journey, allow me to offer you something that might be of use." He said, magically materializing an object in his hands. It was a finely crafted amulet depicting a satyr face with closed eyes. "This is a satyr talisman, a lucky charm. It will protect you from the hidden dangers in the underground."

Marshmallow reluctantly accepted the amulet, more out of the fatigue that had accumulated in his bones than from real distrust. The amulet was unexpectedly cold to the touch, almost alien, and he hesitated for a moment before putting it around his neck. But as soon as the cold metal touched his skin, an unexpected warmth spread through his body. Marshmallow was surprised and slightly disoriented by this sudden transformation. Part of him was unsettled by the object and its mysterious powers, but another part was curious, perhaps even reassured, by the warm sensation now enveloping him.

"Thank you, Silvanus. Hopefully, this talisman brings me luck!" Marshmallow replied in amazement.

"I'm sure it will," Silvanus replied softly.

As Marshmallow walked away, guided by the amulet and the lantern, Silvanus stayed behind, watching him until he disappeared among the roots of the Shining Tree.

As Marshmallow continued his descent into the underground, guided by Silvanus's mysterious talisman and the trusted Lantern of Flow, the path he followed became narrower and more winding. Intertwined roots formed a natural ceiling above his head, creating an almost claustrophobic atmosphere.

In the heart of this underground labyrinth, Marshmallow noticed a small tunnel almost hidden to the eye, as if calling him with a silent beckon.

"Look at that. Another place for a quality snack," Marshmallow murmured to himself with an ironic smile on his lips as he cautiously approached the entrance of the passage. He would have undoubtedly ignored this passage if he hadn't met Silvanus. But still, if he hadn't explored, he would never have known, right?

With a mix of curiosity and hope, he ventured into the tunnel, imagining perhaps finding another refuge with food and water supplies, or maybe something even more useful, like rare equipment or magical items. He moved carefully, crawling in some sections so narrow that the space seemed to constrict around him, forcing him to move slowly and with difficulty. The air was damp and cold, a stark contrast to the atmosphere of the wider corridors he had come from, and each breath formed small clouds of vapor in the chilly air.

The journey seemed to last an eternity, and with each step, Marshmallow felt the tension and expectation growing. When he finally emerged into a small cavern, he stopped for a moment to look around, illuminating the rocky walls with his lantern.

"Well, let's see what we have here," he said softly, hoping to discover some hidden treasure or at least some food supplies.

But, instead of finding supplies, what he saw made him freeze on the spot. The entire cavern was teeming with Evolveroaches. They were everywhere: on the walls, the ceiling, the floor. They moved in a frenetic, chaotic whirl, creating a dull, constant noise that echoed off the cavern walls. Their number was such that the cavern seemed alive, a pulsating organism of insects.

"Damn it, Silvanus!" Marshmallow exclaimed. What a shitty situation! He had trusted the satyr, and now he found himself in a situation that calling absurd was an understatement.

Without warning, the Lantern of Flow exploded into purple light. The light was aimed squarely at the amulet around Marshmallow's neck. The amulet, silent and inactive until that moment, began to vibrate violently, becoming the center of a vortex of pulsating energy.

The Evolveroaches, the creatures that had just threatened him with their ominous presence, began to retreat. Their movements were erratic as if frightened and disoriented by the energy emanating from the amulet. Marshmallow, still in shock and disbelief, felt the power grow within him. The amulet was defending him, creating an impenetrable aura around him that made him untouchable.

The vibrant, living purple energy continued to spread throughout the cave, illuminating every nook and cranny, revealing hidden details of the rock walls. The amulet, now charged with a mysterious and unfathomable power, seemed to have completely changed Marshmallow's fate. What had once been a mortal danger now became an extraordinary manifestation of his newfound power.

A violet flash blazed from the amulet, and a figure suddenly materialized before Marshmallow's eyes.

"The Hidden Keeper?" he wondered.