From a distance, the village looked unremarkable, its silhouette blending with the dense forest surrounding it. But as the magical carriage sailed closer, Ery sensed an unusually rich concentration of spirit energy emanating from the area. The carriage ca to a halt at a small dock by the edge of the village. A graceful figure hovered toward them before Ery or anyone else could disembark. It was a mber of the fairy race—a female, her form slender and slightly smaller than an average human. Her delicate, translucent wings shimred faintly under the morning sunlight as she smiled warmly.
"Welco to the Whispering Willows," she said, her voice as lodious as a song.
As the fairy spoke, Ery noted her deanor. Like much of the information he had read, most fairies were known to be hospitable, and her greeting seed to confirm that reputation.
Around the dock, the group observed more signs of life. Several humans dressed in plain, naturally woven clothing moved about, carrying baskets of fruit or tending to various chores. Interspersed among them were elves—wooden elves, their attire made of bark and leaves, blending seamlessly with their environnt.
The fairies wasted no ti in welcoming Ery and his group, guiding them through the village with an unspoken charm. The pathways were lined with glowing moss, and tiny orbs of light flitted about like fireflies. Despite their otherworldly beauty, the fairies seed casual, their focus on making their guests feel at ho.
One fairy said cheerfully. "The Whispering Spring will open in three days. Until then, "You can stay here with us."
Ery raised a curious brow. "The Whispering Spring?"
The fairy nodded, her wings fluttering as she explained. "It's our village's most cherished landmark. A magical hot spring, it refreshes the body and mind. It's especially beneficial for those of the Magus realm and below."
Hearing this, Shinta's eyes lit up with excitent. She practically bounced with enthusiasm as she grabbed Ery's arm. "Father, we have to stay! Please! I want to try it!"
Ery sighed, but a smile crept across his face. Though he doubted that any landmark that was open to the public would have any significant effect on him, he couldn't deny his daughter's joy. "Alright," he relented. "We'll stay for three days."
The fairies led them to a quaint lodge made from intertwining tree roots and flowers. It was a serene place, and the group quickly settled into the peaceful rhythm of the village.
Shinta spent her ti marveling at the fairy architecture and befriending the locals, while the two boys helped with small tasks, earning smiles from the villagers. Ery, however, spent most of his ti observing, understanding the fairies way of life.
The tranquility of the Whispering Willows was infectious. For two days, they lived among the fairies, sharing als, listening to their songs, and experiencing monts of rare peace.
Finally, the third day arrived, and with it, the much-anticipated opening of the Whispering Spring. Shinta was practically glowing with excitent, dragging Ha Ron and Kingrig along despite their reluctance. Ery, ever curious, decided to join them, if only to see what made this spring so special.
The group followed the fairies to the spring, which was nestled within a grove of ancient, glowing trees. The spring itself was vast, its waters shimring with an ethereal light. Magical flowers grew along the edges, their petals emitting a soft, colorful glow that danced across the surface of the water.
To their surprise, there was no separation between male and female areas. Shinta, only wearing her undergarnts, claid a spot on the far side of the spring, leaving Ery with the boys.
As they settled into the warm, inviting waters, Ery allowed himself to relax. The spring was soothing, its energy gently caressing his senses. He could see why the fairies cherished this place—it was truly a haven of rejuvenation.
However, minutes into their soak, Ery's expression changed. He realized he had been gravely mistaken. The spring wasn't just soothing; it was teeming with an extrely potent concentration of spirit energy, far higher than he had anticipated. In fact, the energy here was not much less vigorous than the revered Myriad Spring of Life, a treasured site within the Magus Academy.
Amazent filled Ery as he felt the natural energy flowing into his body. Soon, a familiar notification resonated in his mind.
[Soul force has increased]
The sheer potency of the spring left Ery awestruck. It almost made him forget about the acolytes around him. If this place could provide him with such benefits, he could only imagine how much more it could do for them.
Ha Ron's trembling voice was heard. "Master… What is going on... I...."
Ery turned toward him and saw the sa thing happening to Kingrig. Sparks of lightning crackled faintly around Kingrig's body, while Ha Ron's breathing grew shallow as he absorbed the overwhelming energy like a sponge. The spirit energy wasn't just seeping into their bodies; it was surging with a force that could easily overwhelm them if left unchecked.
Two choices imdiately ca to mind: he could either block the energy flow and pull them out of the spring or help them guide the energy into their spirit cores.
Ery chose the latter
After a quick glance across the spring, confirming that there was no imdiate concern for his daughter, Ery swiftly turned his focus back to the boys.
Both acolytes' bodies began to glow faintly as the energy surged through them. Their spirit energy rose at an alarming rate.
"Follow my instruction!!" Ery guided them and watched intently as Ha Ron's nine spirit pillars flared brightly. Then, with a brilliant burst of energy, they rged into a single, unified pillar.
Ha Ron was the first to break through and step into the Magus realm.
Before Ery could process this triumph, Kingrig let out a shout. Lightning erupted around him, arcing wildly across the surface of the spring. His spirit pillars followed suit, condensing and rging into a single pillar of pure power.
Two Magus realms breakthrough, one after another.
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