Rise of Tyrus

Peering around a tree, Tyrus squinted at the same cave he and the spirit vanquished the rock spiders months ago.

"Are you looking for rock spiders?" Meadow said softly from his shoulder.

"Yeah, just to be careful," Tyrus said. "Regular spiders tend to crawl to a corner and stay there unless disturbed." Rock spiders are different because of their size and intelligence. They are smart enough to know when to attack or flee. There are also the traps they make for any unsuspecting creature that wanders into their territory."

"It's a good thing we dealt with them all last time. There shouldn't be any surprises, right?"

"Probably not. Still, it doesn't hurt to be careful. Come on, let's go."

Meadow clutched onto his collar tighter, and Tyrus began moving through the low snow. With just a thought, a sword appeared in his hands. Mist escaped his lips as he approached the cave slowly. A passing breeze tried its best to force Tyrus to fits of shivering, but his enchanted coat protected him well. Throughout winter, he ensured it was in its long state to cover his arms and legs. It was a wise decision, considering the biting wind that blew through the snow.

The cobwebs that decorated the cave entrance were crystalized, creating a barrier that prevented anyone from entering. With a downward slash, the cobwebs were smashed to pieces, and Tyrus moved inside. His eyes adjusted to the darkness quickly.

The first thing that caught his attention was the stench of a dozen decaying carcasses and claw marks. Bones and blackened flesh ranging from rodents to even dire wolves littered the floor. The smell was strong, and it made Tyrus wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"This was not here before," Tyrus noted. "A lot of dried bloodstains and claw marks on the walls. Most likely a territorial fight between animals happened here. Ever since the previous owners left, new ones have come. It could have been a bear or something. Maybe even a pack of dire wolves, but I do not see any fresh blood."

While the idea of new owners taking over seemed plausible, Tyrus had a gut feeling that it wasn't the case. According to the bestiary, rock spiders had an incubation period of no more than two months. Unlike regular spiders, they laid a significantly lower number of eggs, typically around eighteen to twenty-four during autumn. If that was the average, then how many rock spiders had he and Meadow killed last time? Eleven? Thirteen? Definitely fewer than twenty-four. The presence of a rock spider matriarch was essential for egg-laying, and if they had missed just one male and female, then—

"This place gives me the creeps," Meadow shivered, her voice barely a whisper.

"We'll be out of here in no time," Tyrus said, rising to his feet.

The temperature in the cavern was better than the outside, so Tyrus shifted his coat into its shorter form. A fresh wave of frigid air hit him as his bare skin met the cold. He shivered from the sensation and began walking deeper into the cave.

Quickly, he found the path he usually took. To his left was a ledge with a tunnel leading further underground. Underneath it was a stream of water that spilled down into deep darkness. Falling from the ledge was a definite death sentence, but a fit creature could traverse the path easily enough.

"Illumination."

A globe of light appeared near his head. Tyrus pocketed his sword and vaulted across, landing perfectly on the edge. He then began making his way further into the cavern, all while ignoring the numerous webbings and skeletons. His feet crunched the gravel and rock beneath him. The rush of water below receded with every step.

The tunnel led them into a spacious chamber, filled with scattered boulders and winding trails. Sloping paths and ledges created a natural maze, which could easily ensnare someone in a trap or dead end. The ceiling stood several dozen feet high, adorned with stalactites and tightly woven webs. Surprisingly, there were no signs of rock spiders yet—no chittering resembling rocks grinding together, nor the faint sound of their legs scraping against stone.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot. Meadow, you mentioned that the rock spiders would sense you coming because you're made of mana. Is it okay for you to be here?"

Meadow pursed her lips. "I will not leave your side again. If my appearance brings the rock spiders to us, then I will make sure to support you as best as I can. Will that be a problem?"

Tyrus shook his head. "No, not really. It would be a problem before, but not this time. I don't know until I try, but I feel like hunting rock spiders will be a lot easier from now on."

She regarded him skeptically, yet said nothing as Tyrus jumped on top of the nearest boulder. He then jumped onto another one, and then another, all while keeping his body low and his footsteps light. Instead of navigating on the ground floor and wasting time hitting dead ends, traveling on higher ground would be the quickest. Such a tactic would be a death sentence during his last encounter, but that was because of his inexperience. This time, things were going to be different.

He continued hopping from boulder to boulder to ledges, jumping on the ones nearest to each other. Cocoons hanging from the ceiling swayed back and forth. Some had already been opened, revealing an empty shell, while others contained old victims. Tyrus avoided the bridges fashioned by the rock spiders to avoid the trouble of being stuck—or alerting them of his presence, if they weren't already aware. But so far, none showed up, and the silence was beginning to unnerve him.

A short while later, he reached the end of the chamber and came across the glowing tunnel he'd been itching to explore. He leapt off a boulder and jogged toward it. The closer he got, the warmer the air became.

Tyrus took a quick peek at his surroundings just in case any more rock spiders were in the ambushing mood. Fortunately, none reared their creepy forms, and Tyrus's shoulders relaxed. He passed by the hole he fell inside of and stopped.

"This is the hole I fell inside of after I finished my fight with two rock spiders. Right as I stepped to one of them to finish the job, the ground crumbled beneath me, leading me further underground. To be honest, I was afraid that I wouldn't find an exit."

Meadow flitted toward the hole and said, "This hole looks deep! It is a miracle you survived the fall with no injuries."

"If I wasn't a Demi-human and a sorcerer, then I'd probably be a corpse down there. I have my lineage to thank." Tyrus's fingers tingled as he recalled digging them into the stone to slow his descent. A miracle indeed that he so possessed augmentation.

"Let's continue on, Meadow."

The spirit nodded and returned to his shoulder. They faced the glowing tunnel and began jogging down the path. The tunnel was wide enough to accommodate five adults tall and wide. Light from the crystals bounced off each other, blinding Tyrus with its pristine white light. He had to shield his eyes until they adjusted, and even then, it took some time.

The walls were jagged and uneven, webbed with cracks that shimmered faintly. With each step, his boots crunched over shattered brittle bones and carapaces. The air grew a tad warmer, carrying the scent of damp earth and something metallic—like rusted iron or old blood.

As he reached the end of the tunnel, the space opened into a vast, illuminated underground chamber. Towering stalagmites rose from the ground and into the ceiling, like giant poles holding up the entire area. The very same white crystals dotted the landscape, growing in clusters from the walls, overarching ledges, and the steep, spiral-like terrain. It was as if Tyrus entered an entirely different world.

"It's huge in here!" Tyrus said in awe.

Meadow gaped in shock. "This is the biggest cavern I've ever seen, and I've been in Wildwood for years. The rock spiders found a really great home."

Tyrus took a few steps forward, examining the area ahead. He noticed an increase in the amount of webbing, and the cocoons hanging from the ceiling and walls were significantly larger, some even as big as the lesser hounds in Wildwood. These cocoons were suspended from sturdy, intricately woven nets above, neatly organized into distinct piles based on size. There was one pile for small rodents, another for cocoons of a size similar to lesser hounds, and a few larger ones that brought to mind bears.

Tyrus trekked on, carefully stepping through the uneven terrain. Blood-sucking bats hung on the ceiling and walls, their thin wings were wrapped around themselves as they slept.

Six-legged crawlers skittered away whenever Tyrus got close. Their ebony bodies were the size of his hand and were like crabs, except they used rocks to find shelter in. Using their thick mandibles, the crawlers would latch onto the rocks, and use their teeth to dig through, creating holes to sleep in. Tyrus tried his best not to disturb their peace by accidentally stepping onto them.

No lingering rock spiders were nowhere in sight.

A while later, Tyrus walked by one of the huge stalagmites. His heart nearly hopped out of his throat when his foot didn't meet solid ground, and he immediately retracted his step. Tyrus looked down and saw a deep depression below him. It was like a giant crater in the shape of a basin suddenly sunk into the earth, except there was no debris or dust, and the depression had a smooth surface. The area was steep enough to where he could slide down comfortably. Lying in the middle of said depression was a sight that caused Tyrus's heart to jump.

Within the depression, one could see an array of rock spider eggs, creating a fascinating scene. Countless small white orbs, resembling stones, were densely clustered together. There was so much that the eggs were practically a white carpet. In the middle of those eggs were a colossal spider’s husk, easily two times the size of the rock spiders he had fought. Its body lay split down the middle, as if something far deadlier had burst from within an egg.

"Meadow," Tyrus warned, "that husk in the middle is a rock spider exoskeleton."

"And a big one at that. The question is: where is it? I don't remember us slaying any rock spiders of that size. Have you?"

Tyrus shook his head. Those two rock spiders guarding the entrance were nowhere near the size of the one in front of him. That meant the pair were drones—tunneling guardians protecting the nest. It would explain why their teamwork was extraordinary, and they stealthily managed to get past his senses. The question was: where did the culprit go, and why leave the eggs unattended?

Recalling from the bestiary, each spider molts throughout its life, shedding older layers of rock exoskeleton to grow a harder, denser one. Molting leaves them vulnerable for hours until the new shell hardens—times when colonies are most at risk of attack from outside predators. But for a molt to be so drastic, that meant the rock spider responsible had to be a rock spider matriarch, the highest evolution of the rock spider species.

Only females were capable of becoming a rock spider matriarch, and one matriarch exists for each nest. The other female rock spiders were responsible for foraging for minerals, and maintaining the tunnels made by the males.

Judging by the nest and the molt, the matriarch only recently evolved. And after each molt, a rock spider searches for a source of nutrients, like water and minerals, to replenish their energy and reinforce their new exoskeletons. That meant that right now, that matriarch was around somewhere, looking for its next meal. The rock spider matriarch could have gone anywhere in the underground cave. There were countless tunnels and pathways.

Tyrus looked past the nest, peering at the other side of the chamber the best he could. Thanks to the help of the glowing crystals all around, visibility wasn't that much of an issue, so he rescinded the Illumination spell.

"Meadow, there's a rock spider matriarch around here somewhere. Keep your eyes open for any moving shadows or odd sounds. Since they're made of rock, it should be easy to notice any movement."

The spirit glanced at the eggs and said, "What shall you do about the eggs?"

Tyrus thought about it for a moment; an idea popped into mind, a sad one at that. He shuffled his feet and slid down the smooth incline. As soon as he reached the bottom, a strong stench assailed his nose, almost as if a lesser hound hadn't bathed in days.

Pinching his nose, he approached the nest and the husk with the utmost caution. Once he reached the nearest batch, his hand lit up in flames. He crouched toward the nearest egg and touched it, allowing the fire to spread. Within seconds, the egg burst into flame, and the rest did the same.

After a while, the whole nest was ablaze, and the flames reached high enough that the eggs were completely devoured. The crackling and hissing of the flames were loud, yet the sleeping bats remained asleep, and the crawlers scrambled away.

Meadow drifted away from the heat. "Okay, now what?"

Tyrus pressed a finger to his lips and cupped his ears. Meadow understood immediately and covered her mouth with her tiny hands. He listened carefully, ignoring the crackling fire, and focused.

Nothing.

He stood there and waited for a moment longer, his eyes darting from left to right. The chamber was eerily silent. If not for the flames behind him, Tyrus would have assumed that time had stopped. In the quiet space, minute sounds flew past his ears; the sound of crawlers leaving their little hobbles and scattering away; the echoes of water droplets falling from the ceiling.

Just as Tyrus was about to call it quits, a screech so terrible pierced the silence, coming from all directions. The snoozing bats awakened, shrieking and screeching as they flew out of their holes. Even the crawlers skittered faster, zooming past as they feared for their lives. Tyrus backed away from the blaze and climbed out of the depression with a single bound. When he landed at the top, it finally appeared. Scuttling down one of the thick stalagmites was the matriarch.

The rock spider was almost twice the size of a regular one, with eight thick legs made of stone that dug into the stalagmite for support. Its body had a combination of saber and pitch-black colors; sprinkled around its carapace of sturdy rock were white crystals that currently illuminated the cavern. Six ruby eyes pierced through the darkness as it descended from a stalagmite. It screeched once more, creating a grinding noise with its fang-like mouthparts.

On one of the ledges, the matriarch stopped and gazed at its nest, now engulfed in flames. Another dreadful wail escaped its mouth, and it turned its attention towards Tyrus, emitting pure hatred from its eyes.

The matriarch leaped off the stalagmite and landed a dozen feet away, creating a small crater from its weight. It let out a hiss and began rushing toward him and Meadow. The ground rumbled from the matriarch every step, and the flames that surrounded the nest rose higher, creating a fiery glow that served as the matriarch shadow.

"Time to start, Meadow!" Tyrus shouted, already summoning lightning from his hands.

"On it!" she said, flitting just above the rock spider. She raised her arms at the creature and summoned forth roots. They sprang out from the ground and attempted to grasp at the matriarch, but the creature simply broke them apart with its powerful forelegs.

Tyrus loosed a few Lightning Orbs at the matriarch, yet the monster didn't seem to mind, as it continued rushing toward him. Lightning crackled and flashed as it hit its mark on its hardened face. Yet, it was completely unfazed, eyes set on its prey.

The matriarch closed the gap in seconds. With a mighty leap, it aimed to land directly on top of him. Tyrus sidestepped and easily avoided the telegraphed attack. The ground crumbled underneath him, and a cloud of dust and smoke shot into the air. Tyrus regained his footing and leaped on top of a nearby boulder. He aimed at the dust cloud and fired off a singular Lightning Bolt with the power of Dual Shot. The spell streaked by like an arrow, striking the beast just as it came into view.

The monster screeched as the impact caused it to stumble backwards. A trail of lightning zigzagged across its carapace, leaving behind a smoking crack. The matriarch shook itself and then glared at Tyrus with fury. It opened its mouth and spat out a barrage of webs. Tyrus vaulted away, leaping on top of another boulder, and the webs struck the one he was standing on.

Meadow's earth magic is too weak to hold, let alone stop the creature since it's bigger and stronger. We'll have to come up with something new.

Tyrus leapt away just in time as the rock spider charged forward, ramming its body through the boulder, sending fragments and dust to billow out. Tyrus rolled across the ground and regained his footing. Meadow joined his side, flitting above him.

"Don't rely on stopping the matriarch," Tyrus advised. He pocketed his sword. "It'll just keep breaking out of the vines. Support me instead."

Before the spirit could answer, Tyrus was already on the move, and so was the beast. It circled around and uttered a wail as it spewed out more of its sticky webs. Tyrus dodged them all, even the ones that tried to trap his feet. He and the matriarch charged at each, akin to two bucks clashing horns.

Mana swelled into his right hand, fusing into a Lightning Orb. A spot in the ground between them shot upward, creating a tall, but skinny pillar that was easily reachable. Tyrus jumped onto the pillar and kicked himself upward. A wide view of the matriarch's back was beneath him.

The beast noticed its enemy had gotten on top of it and tried to swipe at him with its forelegs. Tyrus twisted his body enough to where the foreleg merely nearly grazed him. The spell he was building up finished, and he unleashed the spell on a small section on its back where there was a thin lining of rock protecting it: the joints connecting its torso and limbs.

A blast of lightning crackled across its back, and the monster cried out in pain. The smell of burnt flesh flooded him, and the rock spider stumbled backward, nearly losing its balance. Tyrus rolled on the ground, rising to his feet as soon as he could and getting a higher vantage. He squinted at the part where the matriarch was struck.

Smoke poured out of the wound, yet no blood or flesh was found. There was a sizable chunk of its carapace missing, but that was it. All it did was serve to make the matriarch even angrier and more feisty. It spun around and regarded Tyrus with so much bloodlust that his skin crawled just from staring into the red eyes.

Then, something strange occurred. Its body quivered, and the shimmering crystals on its back emitted a radiant glow. The broken fragments of rubble suspended in the air, creating a swirling vortex of dust. Swiftly, the debris converged upon the creature, fitting together like interlocking puzzle pieces, forming a protective layer over the wound it had sustained. The remaining scattered fragments continued to orbit the creature, creating a whirlpool of stone.

"It can repair itself!?" Tyrus exclaimed. "The bestiary never mentioned this!"

Moments after a screech echoed through the air, the matriarch surged forward with a newfound determination. The floating rocks zoomed ahead at a terrifying speed, leaving Tyrus with no alternative but to take cover behind the nearest stalagmite, skillfully evading the onslaught of rubble. The jagged edges scraped against the stalagmite, effortlessly hacking through its outer surface as if it were butter. Persisting in its attack, the creature relentlessly pursued, prompting Tyrus to hastily make his way towards the closest boulder.

I need to find the perfect chance to attack! Since it can repair itself, I'll need to end it with one blow.

Tyrus began to formulate a plan through all the chaos. Just when the matriarch's assault halted, he jumped onto the boulder and took a moment to gather his bearings. His gaze followed the creature's movement as it circled around, its eyes focused on a zooming green blur above its head.

Meadow was busy diverting the matriarch's attention. Since the spirit was fast, it was easy for her to dodge the rock projectiles, which would strike at the ceiling instead. She would then counterattack by throwing rocks of her own, this time at the creature's exposed eyes. The creature screeched every time a rock struck its target.

With the beast distracted, Tyrus went to work. In one heartbeat, he mentally entered the Sorcerer Plane and switched to the dark element. His hand glowed black, forming shifting shadows, and he released a Shadow Bolt that zipped by, striking one of its legs. The spell unfurled into tendrils that clung onto the creature's leg and drained it. The beast lurched and let out a shriek.

Meadow took that opportunity to form a skewer of rock and hurled it at the beast's face. Purple blood oozed out of the wound and down its jaw. A wailing roar boomed through the chamber, echoing throughout the vast cavern.

In a desperate attempt, it stomped its many legs onto the ground, creating shockwaves that shattered the ground. The ceiling above them that received damage from the previous barrage felt the tremors and rained down rock the size of Meadow. One of them knocked Meadow out of the air; she landed on the ground face-first and groaned. The creature rushed towards her and raised its foreleg, intending to crush her beneath its weight.

Tyrus didn't even think; he dashed forward, reaching the spirit before the foreleg slammed onto the ground. He grabbed her just as she lifted her head and rolled away, narrowly avoiding the attack. Chips of rock scattered everywhere, peppering his back with stone shrapnel. The residue merely bounced off as if a shield were strapped to his backside.

"Are you alright, Meadow?"

She clutched her head and fluttered upward. "Y-Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you, Savior."

"Good to hear. About the matriarch, we'll have to finish it in one blow since it can repair itself with rocks. And since we're practically surrounded by rocks, it can't die even if we hack and slash away at its body. I'll need you to continue distracting it while I prepare."

Meadow eyed the ceiling that was slowly crumbling. "If a distraction is what you need, then I know just the way."

Meadow immediately darted forward, hovering just above the beast. The matriarch tracked her movement, and its back glowed brighter. It was charging up its attack again, preparing to throw rocks. A moment later, the projectiles came swiftly, aiming right for her. Yet, the spirit flew faster, weaving past the oncoming projectiles, luring the creature away from Tyrus.

Tyrus took a deep breath and squared his feet. He raised his arms and clasped his palms together, almost in a sort of prayer. His mana heart hummed with power as it circulated from within; from his core and then his limbs. Lightning swirled around his hands, sparking and hissing as he drew his arms apart. In his mind, the form he wished would appear took form: a spear.

Lightning danced along his fingertips, its tendrils weaving together and flickering wildly before Tyrus skillfully guided them into alignment. Gradually, the tip of the spear materialized—a jagged, razor-sharp point buzzing with a dangerous energy, as if it yearned to puncture something. Next came the shaft, still vibrant but with a more controlled energy, a glowing line of tightly compressed lightning firmly grasped in his hand. As the final step was completed, a brilliant azure light flashed before him, and a Lightning Spear appeared in the empty space between his hands.

It was a new spell he formed during his training sessions in the practice room. After spending months practicing with his lightning spells, he decided to experiment thanks to his experience with the rampaging earth spirit—and Igneal's demonstration back in the Wasteful Wetlands. He needed at least one spell capable of piercing through hard objects, and since the matriarchs' armor was rock, he figured that his newly learned spell could be put to good use. Lightning Spear was still imperfect, as it took ten heartbeats to form one spear, and it had a shorter range than Lightning Orb. Even then, Tyrus couldn't help but feel giddy upon seeing the weapon he had spent hours creating beforehand.

His amazement was snapped when a rumbling from above startled him. He looked up to see part of the ceiling finally giving way, and a barrage of sharp rocks falling from above. A chunk of a large stalactite broke off and fell, colliding with the matriarch. A wave of dust and dirt exploded outward, momentarily hiding the creature from sight.

Tyrus eyes turned to slits, and he dashed forward, his spear held aloft, his gaze fixated on the beasts' position. He sprinted into the veil of dust, his eyes set on five red eyes that penetrated the gray. Struggling underneath the pile of rubble, the matriarch was trying to dig its way out. It noticed Tyrus's approach and opened its maw to send forth a wide net of silk.

Tyrus slid under the web, the sticky substance brushing the hairs on the top of his head. Using augmentation, he took a big leap right as the matriarch wiggled free from its imprisonment. It swiped a fore limb forward, threatening to crush Tyrus in one blow. But he was already too high. His spear aimed down, and the blade-like tip sank deep into the same spot it was damaged.

A terrible screech filled the air, and Tyrus landed on the ground with a roll. The matriarch's body convulsed, its legs twitching violently. Smoke billowed from its back, and a crackling sound filled the air. Violet blood poured out from the wound, splattering the ground with its thick consistency, and the beast toppled onto its backside. A hole the size of a spearhead was present in its torso, the edges of the wound fuming.

Tyrus stumbled to his feet, wiping soot and dust off his face. He panted heavily, and sweat covered his forehead. He looked toward the fallen beast, waiting for any sign of movement. However, his worries were alleviated as the matriarch let out one last cry and stopped moving, curling its leg.

Meadow drifted to his side,looking twice as tired as Tyrus. Rock residue stained her hair and shoulders, and she was sweating profusely. Her eyes drooped and her wings barely fluttered.

"Is...it over?" the spirit asked.

"Seems like it," Tyrus replied.

Without taking a break, Tyrus walked up toward the beast and climbed on top of its corpse. From atop the body, it looked like a giant boulder with legs attached to the sides. It was a marvel how these things could move so agile with a body that weighed as much as a few horses.

He retrieved his sword and chipped away at the matriarch's head. It took some time, but with the help of augmentation, he could break through its thick shell, and eventually, the creature's black flesh was exposed. He tossed aside the sword and dug into the wound with his bare hands, fishing toward where the stream of mana was most concentrated.

Through Meadow's constant gagging, Tyrus felt something solid touch his fingertips, and he ripped free the rock spider's mana core, its form glowing as brightly as the crystals outward. An orb as big as a man's head, it was a mixture of different shades of violet, all swirling around each other. The mana core was smooth, without a single blemish, and warm to the touch. It was the biggest and prettiest mana core he had ever seen.

"That's a big mana core!" Meadow said, peeking through her fingers. "What will you do with it now?"

Tyrus smiled. "I'm going to absorb the mana, of course. With a mana core this big and pure, I'm positive I'll reach the halfway mark of the fourth branch—"

A familiar tug at his ring finger alerted Tyrus. He lifted his right hand, and the ring grew heavy. Something quick escaped the ring—the artifact resting within his ring hovered just near the mana core. Tyrus' heart sank when he realized there was only one reason the artifact would leave on its own.

But there's no corrupted mana around to absorb! Why is it outside the ring?

The artifact spun rapidly, and its two ends glowed. A white beam fired out from the mana core, striking the artifact. Tyrus watched helplessly as he and Meadow's hard work was greedily devoured. The mana core dulled as the seconds passed, and the artifact brightened with every passing second. Soon, the core was nothing more than a dull rock, falling right in front of him. Waves of black and white glowed in the artifact. After a few more seconds, the light show stopped, and the artifact returned inside the ring.

Tyrus fell to his knees. "All our hard work... Gone, just like that. The artifact has never absorbed the other mana cores before..."

Meadow fluttered down and patted his cheek; a touch as gentle as a feather. "It will be alright, Savior. I don't know what happened exactly, but you seem familiar with that object. Maybe it's a good thing?"

I doubt it, Tyrus thought. So far, the artifact only absorbed corrupted mana. He saw no other reason it would suddenly absorb the rock spider's mana core. But at this point, he didn't care. He and Meadow did not risk their lives for their progress to end in vain. For a moment, he wanted to get rid of the thing so that such a thing never happened again.

That was until previous warnings surfaced in his mind.

Taking a deep breath, Tyrus stood up. "It stings, but I'll have to move on. What's done is done. Our time here is done, Meadow."

He looked around for the entrance they took before, found it, and took a few steps forward. Tyrus stopped when he noticed Meadow was still hovering in the same spot.

"Meadow?" Tyrus asked worriedly.

She blinked and smiled. "Ah, sorry, Savior. I'm still dizzy from that last hit."

"Rest on my hand. I'll lead us back up."

The spirit gently landed on his palm. As Tyrus made his way to the exit, he could have sworn that he saw something strange flicker in her eyes, but he regarded it as nothing more than the light playing tricks on him.

Navigating through the cavern took no more than six minutes, and he returned to the outside world, breathing in the crisp air that stung his lungs. The trek back to the sanctuary was met with silence, and a while later, they entered through a line of trees, greeted by the sight of Elder Treant's words.

"You returned sooner than I thought," said Elder Treant.

Tyrus nodded. "I finished what I sought to do here. It's about time I head back to the capital and prepare for the academy. I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll try to spare some time to visit. I owe you and your sanctuary for everything."

"No need. We are honored to have assisted the Hero of Wildwood. It is understandable you are busy. Do not worry about us. May you have a safe and fruitful journey, Tyrus."

"Thanks, Elder Treant."

He waved goodbye to the wise treant and Meadow, whose eyes looked lost. She must still be feeling the effects of the hits. While small, the spirit sure could take a hit. The mana inside the sanctuary would probably heal her up in no time.

Tyrus left the sanctuary and Wildwood. During his journey down the slopes of the Emerald Hills, Tyrus fixated on the Grand Tower with eyes filled with envy. Positioned there was the teleportation gate that he planned to use for traveling towards the academy, his next destination. The mere idea of the things he would learn thrilled him. He had the whole world laid out in front of him, and he'd do his best to not waste the opportunity.