Neither Lilith nor Atheline moved for several moments after crossing the invisible threshold. Instinct alone told them something had changed.
Tree roots coiled across the forest floor and soft moss still blanketed every stone, yet the longer they stood there... the more impossible details revealed themselves.
Atheline slowly inhaled. The Aether flowing into his body with each breath was unlike anything he had experienced when he got near the world tree.
It was pure enough that he felt his body absorbing tiny amounts without any conscious effort.
Lilith noticed the same phenomenon.
"The concentration..." She spoke quietly, almost afraid of disturbing the silence. "...it’s several times greater than outside."
Atheline nodded.
"And astonishingly stable."
Normally, when Aether became this concentrated, it turned violent and gathered into storms; that was mainly how corrupted for formed in an area. The further away from the world tree, the harder it became.
Here, it was perfectly balanced, almost as though the forest itself regulated it.
They continued walking, and this time, nothing stopped them. There was no invisible force redirected their path; illusions quietly turned them around, or beasts burst from the undergrowth. The difference was so sudden that it almost felt unsettling.
After nearly two days of constant attacks, the silence now felt louder than any battle. The little fox cautiously walked ahead. Her earlier nervousness had completely disappeared; instead, she curiously sniffed flowers growing beside the trail before chasing glowing butterflies drifting lazily through the air.
Lilith watched it for a moment.
"She isn’t frightened anymore."
Atheline smiled.
"It probably knows we’re past whatever was keeping people out."
The trail beneath their feet gradually disappeared, because it had never truly existed; instead, the forest floor naturally opened before them, creating gentle passages between enormous roots without any visible signs of previous travelers. It was as though the woodland itself welcomed movement.
Atheline crouched beside a flower growing near the base of an ancient tree. Its petals shimmered with faint light despite the daylight filtering through the canopy.
He had never seen anything similar. The blossom was no larger than his palm, yet every petal seemed carved from translucent crystal. He carefully extended one finger. The flower folded its petals, then a tiny pulse of Aether spread outward.
Atheline’s eyes widened.
"It reacted the moment I touched it, and not violently at that."
Lilith knelt beside him.
"It sensed you and probably the fact that you aren’t a threat to it."
Neither harvested it. Something about the place discouraged taking things unnecessarily; instead, they simply admired it before continuing onward.
As they walked deeper into the hidden forest, the scale of everything gradually became more unbelievable. Trees reached heights that defied reason.
Some trunks were so enormous that entire castles could have been built within them. Bridges formed naturally between branches hundreds of meters above the ground; living branches that had intertwined so perfectly they resembled carefully crafted roads. Vines bearing brilliant blue blossoms hung from the canopy like waterfalls.
Gentle streams flowed through the forest with water so clear that the smooth stones beneath seemed to float in empty air. The streams themselves emitted a faint glow.
The little fox eagerly ran to the nearest stream before lowering her head to drink. She immediately froze, then happily drank even more enthusiastically.
Atheline laughed.
"I think she approves the water here."
Lilith smiled.
"I doubt we’ll find cleaner water anywhere in the world."
He filled one of their waterskins. The water carried an incredibly refreshing sensation, leaving behind a faint sweetness unlike ordinary spring water.
"This alone would be priceless outside."
Lilith nodded.
"And yet..." She looked around. "Here it’s simply water."
Hours passed peacefully. For the first time since entering the ancient forest, neither of them drew a weapon; instead, they explored.
They examined unusual plants. Observed unfamiliar birds whose feathers reflected shifting colors as they flew. Discovered mushrooms growing in perfect circles around crystal-clear ponds.
Several trees even bore fruit that softly glowed beneath the leaves. Atheline picked one up after confirming it had naturally fallen to the ground. The fruit resembled an apple, though its skin shimmered with delicate shades of emerald and gold.
"It smells incredible."
Lilith examined it carefully.
"No poison, corruption, or harmful Aether."
He cut it in half. The flesh inside sparkled faintly. After tasting a small piece, his eyes widened.
"...Remarkable."
Lilith accepted the other half. The flavor was unlike anything she had experienced. It was sweet and refreshing with an almost floral aftertaste.
She could actually feel a tiny amount of Aether replenishing itself naturally. She looked at the remaining trees.
"This entire place... is a treasure beyond imagination."
Atheline quietly nodded.
"And yet no one knows it exists."
Eventually, they reached another clearing. Unlike the previous one, this clearing wasn’t natural; white stone covered the ground, possessing a faint pearlescent glow.
Time had cracked many sections, allowing roots and flowers to grow through them, yet the craftsmanship remained unmistakable. Long ago, someone had built this.
They slowly followed the remains of the ancient stone path. Broken columns emerged from beneath flowering vines. Fragments of elegant walls leaned against enormous roots. Statues, worn almost smooth by countless centuries, stood partially hidden beneath moss.
None of the statues depicted humans, demons, or elves. The figures possessed long pointed ears and graceful wings folded neatly behind their backs with expressions of quiet serenity.
Lilith stopped before one particularly well-preserved statue. The face had weathered badly, but the wings had not. Thousands of delicate feathers had been carved individually.
Atheline studied it silently.
"An unknown race?"
Lilith gently brushed away layers of moss.
"There are no records of anything resembling this."
He nodded.
"Not in any kingdom."
The realization settled quietly between them. Whatever civilization had lived here had disappeared before modern history began.
Nearby, they discovered the remains of a bridge arching gracefully across a narrow river. To Atheline’s surprise, it wasn’t built from stone or glass. The bridge itself had grown from two enormous trees.
Their branches intertwined so perfectly that they formed a smooth walkway; not even modern druids could accomplish something like this.
Lilith rested one hand upon the living wood.
"It’s still alive."
After all these centuries, the bridge continued growing, almost as though it still awaited those who once crossed it daily. They walked across; unexpectedly, the wood didn’t creak; it seemed to strengthen beneath each step.
Beyond the bridge lay another forgotten structure. This time, it resembled a garden. Circular pools reflected the sunlight filtering through the canopy. Crystal formations rose naturally around the edges. Flowers of every imaginable color bloomed together without competing for space.
None appeared cultivated anymore. Nature had reclaimed everything, and yet instead of destroying the garden, it had completed it.