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Maybe Evan had accidentally dashed into some creature during his sprint and had fallen into a trance. If that was the case, unless his body was startled awake, he couldn’t escape this dream. If Xen had pursued him—which Evan was certain he would—maybe he didn’t have to worry after all.

One touch from that guy would wake the dead.

“Why do humans always believe that the things they can’t see are not real or don’t exist?” The tree scolded again. “Listen well, child. This is an Enclave Passage.”

Evan reared back, surprised. “An Encl—really?”

Emberlyn was a land of ancient mysteries and sheltered creatures that didn’t belong in the outside world. Sometimes, such creatures were humans themselves, which was worse.

One of the many reasons the Dark Woods was a restricted territory was because of these hidden patches of lands called Enclave Passages. Using ancient spells that were considered forbidden in spiritual practices, some crooks drew arrays around specific places. Either ones that were abundant in naturally occurring divine creatures or to trap powerful dark beings and forcefully draw out their energies. An Enclave Passage would weaken the creatures, making the extraction easier.

These unethical practices caused harm to the balance in nature by exploiting creatures that lived peacefully in their own territories. Hence these spells were forbidden.

Due to the arrays that made up these Enclave Passages, people couldn’t see, enter, or leave the area, not without a “key.” Something used in the formation of the arrays that the spell could identify as the caster. Without a key, it was nearly impossible to breach the ancient spells and enter such an array. If a creature did possess the power to break such spells and enter, it had to be equally ancient.

And according to Evan’s limited knowledge, he was just twenty-seven. Not reallyancient.

“How did I enter this place without a key?” Evan muttered to himself as he glanced around the woods. The sky was laced with innumerable stars, as if the storm clouds that haunted Emberlyn every day couldn’t sneak into this spellbound area.

“You do have it,” the tree yawned again, sounding bored of Evan already. “The key.”

“No, I don’t.”

“What is that in your pocket then?”

Frowning, Evan’s free hand unconsciously patted his pant pockets. There was only Aaron’s phone in there and…something else. Something pointy. Evan dug into his pocket and fished out the sharp, golden-green object and held it up against the glow of his crystal blade.

It was the earring Victor’s spirit had been holding onto. The one Choi had identified as a belonging of the Covenant of the Nightshades. Evan had mindlessly slid it into his pocket.

But if this earring was the key to this Enclave Passage, that meant this area was a secret hideout for the Covenant of the Nightshades.

Evan’s eyes widened. “Aaron…”

“There, that is the key,” the tree’s voice suddenly took on a sterner, almost displeased tone. “So, you’re one ofthem. And here I thought you were someone worth talking to.”

Evan’s eyes rolled before he could help it. “I’m not one of the Nightshade freaks, if that’s what you’re implying.”

“Then why do you have the key?”

The green stone at the center of the earring was gleaming, a faint, imperceptible amount of energy buzzing within it.

“I found it on a spirit,” Evan traced the dried blood on the stud. From the looks of it, it was snatched from someone’s ear.

“Are you even trying to be convincing, child? What spirit would dare to—” The tree suddenly stilled, its mouth freezing mid-babble, then it opened wide. Too wide. “Quickly, step inside my mouth.”

Evan stared at the mouth dumbfounded, then scoffed before pocketing the earring. “Are you so hungry, Grandpa, that you’re asking the food to come to your mouth?”

“Silly child, if you wish to live, step inside and hide,” It opened its mouth wider, voice dropping. “Quickly.”

That’s when Evan sensed it, the distant shuffle of footsteps. Many footsteps. A crowd of it.

He quickly dissolved the crystal blade in his hand before it could attract attention to him in the dark, then turned to the tree with a wary look. “Promise not to eat me. Or I’ll stab you through—”

“I’m vegetarian.”

“But you’re a tree. Wait, you eat other plants? That’s horrible.”

“I don’t eat humans!” The tree snapped. “Step inside now. Or die.”