The tension in the air didn't truly dissipate until the silhouettes of Borg's party had completely vanished. Yanaki let out a long breath, feeling the adrenaline recede, leaving behind a physical and mental exhaustion. PvP, combat against other players, was exponentially more stressful than facing monsters with predictable patterns.
She turned to look at her party. Sylva still stood in a defensive posture, as steadfast as a rock. The crack on its wooden buckler was slowly closing under the silver moonlight, a testament to its incredible regenerative ability. Yanaki walked over, placing a hand on its sturdy bark. "Well done, Sylva. Thank you."
Sylva couldn't speak, but it gently nudged its head against her hand, a gesture of trust and familiarity.
Beside them, Elara looked even more tired. Disrupting a Mage's spell had clearly consumed a great deal of her energy.
"We need a safe place to rest," Yanaki decided.
There was no place safer than right here. After being purified, the area around the Willow of Memories was filled with life energy and purity. For the two spirits accompanying her, this was a sanctuary. They decided to take a long rest under the new leaves of the willow to fully recover.
During that time, Yanaki sat down, leaning against the warm tree trunk and began to map out her future plans. The Ultimate Quest, [Echoes of Memory], had three major objectives.
First, the [Shard of Courage] in the ancient citadel. Borg's party was heading there. The citadel was surely a high-level area, filled with fierce battles. A direct confrontation with a hostile party of players in such an environment was suicide. She decided to set this objective aside.
Second, the [Shard of Growth] in the Whispering Woods. She already had the [Seed of Growth] as a key. Moreover, with two nature spirits, Elara and Sylva, her party had a massive advantage operating in a forest environment. This seemed to be the most logical choice for her next major objective.
Third, the [Shard of Sacrifice], a PvP time bomb. She could do nothing about it for now, except mentally prepare herself.
Additionally, there was Elara's side quest, [The Pieces of Alia]. They were in the right place to continue it. Helping Elara restore her memories was not just a promise; it also directly strengthened her companion.
A clear plan began to form. She would not follow a straight path. She would leverage every advantage she had.
"Elara, Sylva," she said, both aloud and through her thoughts. "Here's our plan. First, we'll finish what we need to do here, find your home, Elara. After that, we will head to the Whispering Woods. The ancient citadel will be last."
Both of her companions transmitted a feeling of agreement.
Once Elara had fully recovered, they began their work. The drawing only showed the house was near the willow tree, but the area was now just a pile of ruins. With her memory now a little clearer, Elara pointed towards an unusually high mound of earth, covered in roots and weeds. It looked like a small hill, but its shape was very unnatural.
That was it. The house had collapsed and been completely buried by earth and stone.
"Sylva, a little help."
Understanding his master's intent, the Reborn Treant began to demonstrate its strength. Its wooden hands easily lifted large boulders that Yanaki couldn't have budged. Its long, root-like fingers efficiently clawed away the hard-packed earth. The strength of a Protector wasn't just for combat.
After nearly an hour of work, they had cleared the entrance. A rotted oaken door appeared, and behind it, a stone staircase leading deep underground. The house had a cellar, and it had been protected from the ravages of time by the earth itself.
[Side Quest: [The Pieces of Alia] has been updated!]
New Objective: Explore the Forgotten Crypt and search for Alia's mementos.
A cold draft, carrying the scent of dust and old memories, blew out from the entrance. Below was a thick darkness, where no light could penetrate.
This wasn't a tainted cave, but a place that held the past. It could be safe, or it could be hiding souls even more tormented than the Wraiths she had faced.
Yanaki stood on the top step, Elara floating to her right, Sylva standing guard to her left. All three looked down into the deep darkness together. A new chapter in their journey, a private and emotional search, was about to begin.