The three of them stood under the moonlight, beside the slowly reviving Willow of Memories. Their mission here was complete, but it was just a small stepping stone in the journey to conquer Floor 1.
"Do you know the way to the Whispering Woods, Elara?" Yanaki asked.
"I do," Elara replied, her voice now clear and fluid. "It was once a beautiful place, located to the east of the city. But... it has been a very long time since I was last there. I've heard it changed a great deal after the Great Cataclysm."
With a clear direction, they began their journey through the ruined city once more. But this time, the atmosphere was completely different. With Elara, who could now speak, by her side, the trip was no longer silent and lonely.
"That used to be the market square," Elara pointed to a large, open area with collapsed stalls. "Every weekend, this place would be teeming with people. You could buy spices from the south and silks from the north."
"And that large building?" Yanaki asked, looking at a structure with a half-shattered dome.
"The Royal Library," Elara said, a hint of pride in her voice. "It housed tens of thousands of books, preserving the entire knowledge of Erathos."
Each of Elara's stories breathed life into the silent ruins, transforming them from piles of rubble into witnesses of a lost civilization. Yanaki listened intently, feeling as though she wasn't just traversing a game map, but truly exploring the history of a world.
Along the way, they came across a small group of wandering Lost Souls. They still wore expressions of sorrow and emptiness. Before, Yanaki could only watch them helplessly. But now, she had a way.
"Elara, could you?"
Elara nodded. She took a deep breath, and a melody began to emanate from her lips. It was the [Serene Lullaby], the same one she had sung to Alia. The melody was gentle, sad but not tragic; it held an acceptance and a promise of eternal peace.
The Lost Souls stopped. They slowly turned towards the source of the singing. The pain on their faces gradually faded, replaced by serene smiles. They bowed their heads towards Elara and Yanaki, a final farewell, then slowly dissolved into gentle motes of light and floated up to the sky.
[The skill [Serene Lullaby] has successfully helped 4 [Lost Souls] pass on.]
[Your actions have been noted by the Keeper of Memories.]
[You have gained "Reputation" for Floor 1.]
[Reputation: +20]
"Reputation?" Yanaki was surprised. The system quickly gave her an explanation. It was a hidden stat that measured a player's positive contributions to the world of Erathos. And it was directly related to the [Shard of Sacrifice].
Yanaki suddenly understood. There were two ways to obtain the final memory shard: become the strongest and plunder it, or become the most selfless and be chosen by it. The Tower didn't just test strength; it also tested a player's character.
After a few hours of travel, the scenery began to change. The stone buildings thinned out, giving way to trees. But these were not healthy trees. Their trunks were bent and twisted grotesquely, and their leaves had a sickly, jaundiced green color. A thick, milky-white fog covered everything, reducing visibility and muffling all sounds.
Sylva grew restless. As a nature spirit, it could feel the "sickness" of this forest acutely.
"We're here," Elara whispered, her voice filled with apprehension. "The Whispering Woods."
As they were about to step into the mist, Yanaki suddenly stopped. She pointed to the ground. Imprinted on the damp earth were footprints.
They weren't the heavy boot prints of Borg's party. These tracks were smaller, lighter, perhaps from someone wearing soft leather shoes. And they were very fresh.
This meant that another player, or another party, was also here. A nameless party had entered this dangerous forest ahead of them. Were they friend or foe? What was their purpose?
The mystery of the Whispering Woods deepened.
Yanaki looked at the footprints leading straight into the dense fog. She not only had to deal with the Sorrowful Treant and the corrupted creatures, but also be wary of an unknown party up ahead.
She clenched her fists. The challenges only strengthened her resolve. She looked at her two companions, both in a state of readiness.
"Let's go."
The three of them stepped into the mist together, officially beginning the next chapter of their journey.