Page 26

CHAPTER 26

A n unnerving silence hung over us as we once more stood at the crossroads. The broader path we’d taken before lay temptingly to our left, its verdancy and deceptive ease a stark contrast to the narrow, overgrown ascent shrouded in impenetrable darkness that we currently faced. Towering bamboo stalks loomed on either side, their tall, swaying forms casting eerie, shifting shadows across the mist-laden ground.

“Extinguish the torches,” I instructed in a steady voice. The others exchanged nonplussed glances but offered no objection. One by one, the flickering flames died out, swallowed by the omnipresent blackness.

Kael was the first to speak his misgivings, his voice tinged with apprehension. “It’s pitch dark. Are you sure?—”

“I’ll guide us through—or rather, this light will.” The oppressive darkness seemed to swallow the very sound of my reassurances. Everyone shifted nervously, but despite their lingering unease my companions made no move to retreat.

The wind drifting through the narrow passageway picked up with cold and unyielding strength, howling through the bamboo with a mournful cry that seemed to echo the desolation of the land, as if to challenge our resolve. The rustling leaves whispered secrets, and with every creak of the bending stalks, it felt as though unseen forces were shifting in the shadows.

I searched for Darcel’s arm and one by one we linked, Sir Jiang’s firm grip on Darcel’s hand, while behind him I heard Kael’s rustle as he reluctantly took up the rear. Their presence was steady, but it was Darcel’s reassuring touch that anchored me, a silent promise of his trust. “Lead the way, Mei. I’m right here with you.” His whisper was a warm contrast to the chill of the cavern; his unwavering confidence in me even in the face of our grim surroundings stoked my courage.

With a steadying breath I lifted Lumis and faced the path of living darkness. The lantern’s glow was faint and nearly imperceptible, barely illuminating beyond the immediate ground underfoot, leaving the vast darkness beyond its reach impenetrable. Yet as I mustered the courage to take a tentative step forward, the lantern responded, its light slightly intensifying, a subtle but encouraging sign.

With each hesitant step I took, its golden light reached farther into the darkness, unveiling the path incrementally. It seemed Lumis’s glow was contingent upon my willingness to advance despite the uncertainty, revealing the way forward only as I demonstrated the courage to continue…making this gentle progression of light not just a physical guide but a profound symbol of faith and trust.

We advanced step by precarious step, guided by Lumis’s faint glow we made our way further into the depths, advancing step by precarious step into the heart of shadows with a steadfast belief that beyond this suffocating darkness lay the light we so desperately sought. The darkness seemed to press closer as we moved, a tangible entity intent on swallowing our resolve. The wind tugged at our clothes and skin with icy fingers, as if the shadows themselves sought to pull us apart.

The path underfoot was uneven, tangled with roots and treacherous dips concealed by the underbrush, but despite the difficulty rendering every step, we pressed forward. Darcel’s hand never wavered from my shoulder, his presence a constant reminder of his faith in me. Each time my foot found secure footing, I felt a surge of gratitude for his trust that bolstered my own faltering confidence.

The air grew colder, the shadows denser, as if the darkness itself was alive. My uncertainty swirled like the enveloping mist, causing me to question whether I was truly on the correct path. I focused on the light Lumis cast, a small but steadfast beacon in the overwhelming darkness that connected us to the path ahead.

With each forward movement the path became clearer, illuminating the darkness one tentative step at a time. Time held no meaning as we traveled deeper, swallowed by the encroaching shadows. Eventually, our echoing footsteps entered a vast clearing. The surrounding bamboo stalks stretched high above us, their canopies forming a natural ceiling that blocked out the sky stretching far beyond the reach of Lumis’s glow to disappear into an oppressive darkness that seemed to absorb every flicker of hope, suppressing even the memory of starlight.

Can you give us more light? I asked.

At my request, my lantern shone brighter, a warm pulse that caressed my thoughts with Lumis’s words. “There is a place meant for light just above your head.”

The soft golden hue was enough for me to navigate my way to the center of the clearing, where a natural alcove awaited me just beyond my reach—formed within the dense lattice of interwoven bamboo stalks, shimmering with crystals. Though I didn’t yet understand, I followed Lumis’s instructions and lifted my lantern, fitting it into the niche. The moment its light touched the bamboo’s reflective surface, a cascade of illumination burst forth.

The effect was instantaneous and breathtaking. Lumis’s glow scattered, bouncing off the hollow stalks, refracting between them like a prism, illuminating the entire forest in a dazzling display. The once-ominous shadows retreated, unveiling an ethereal landscape—the forest transformed into a grand, cathedral-like expanse where wild, luminous flora thrived in the newly awakened glow.

The brilliance reflected back on us, bathing the space with warmth and a sense of wonder. For a moment, the entire forest stood still, our collective breath caught in awe as the newfound light illuminated the faces of my companions. Once etched with doubt, they now reflected a quiet reverence from the radiance that now enveloped us. Until now they’d been unable to see Lumis’s light, only for its unexpected radiance to bathe us all in a soft, ethereal glow.

As my wide-eyed gaze took in the splendor, I felt a surge of pride and relief. The magical architecture testified we had been led to a place of significant power and ancient majesty, the deliberate placement of the crystals a testament to the knowledge and capabilities of those who had come before us.

“This is the correct place for our quest,” I murmured.

Darcel stepped up beside me, his hand once more finding mine. “You led us right where we needed to be. I knew you would, Mei.”

His confidence reaffirmed my belief both in myself and our current path. Amid the grandeur of our surroundings, the simple touch of his hand grounded me, reminding me that no matter how fantastical our journey, it was our unity and shared purpose that illuminated our way forward. Surrounded by Lumis’s light and with Darcel’s unwavering presence beside me, the shadows no longer appeared quite so threatening.

High above, the canopy of the bamboo forest shimmered with newfound luminescence, revealing a breathtaking display. A celestial pattern had been woven into the network of branches and leaves, forming constellations scattered across the heavens like silver dust. Each glowing petal of the star-shaped blossoms embedded in the bamboo shone with an otherworldly blue light that shimmered beneath Lumis’s indirect illumination, mirroring the sky that had been lost to this land for so long. Each star within sparkled intensely, each point of light a carefully embedded diamond that caught and reflected the rays from Lumis, creating a glistening celestial dance around us.

As I studied the intricate display, my understanding began to connect like the lines forming the floral constellations before my eyes, as though Lumis’s light was not just illuminating the path ahead but also awakening forgotten knowledge that had lain dormant within my mind. Each beam seemed to spark connections, revealing insights that felt both new and strangely familiar.

The riddle from the ancient scroll once more unfolded through my thoughts: “ Amidst whispers of despair and a land bereft of light, roots entwine with secrets rare, hidden from mortal sight .” I had initially interpreted the ’land bereft of light’ as the realm of shadows we’d ventured through, but now beneath this enchanted canopy, the truth unraveled before me, as if the night sky were unveiling its starlit secrets.

I gazed upward at the stars piercing the dark veil above. ’A land bereft of light’ wasn’t referring to the shadows on the ground but to the celestial darkness above, with the stars forming a constellation of a grand tree whose roots seemed to extend across the heavens, entwined with the legend’s secrets.

My heart raced as I connected the additional pieces. ’Hidden from mortal sight’ appeared to speak not to something invisible, but rather something overlooked in plain view…meaning that what we sought was not buried in the shadowed earth like the shadowroot had been, but instead mirrored in the constellation above us, the rare secrets not of the ground but of the sky.

Excitement swelled as this revelation reshaped my understanding: the true plant we sought was not one buried in the darkness below but one that thrived in the secret light above—the legendary star flowers, born from the celestial echoes hidden within this enchanted grove.

The idea of these mystical celestial blooms seemed fantastical, yet all legends held kernels of truth. Lumis flickered softly, as if encouraging my conclusions that we needed to find a way to obtain the celestial blooms that thrived in the darkest part of this shadowed land.

I shared my thoughts with Darcel, who listened intently, his eyes reflecting the enchanted starlight above us. “So it’s not a plant rooted in the earth, but one grown from the light of the lost sky itself.” Wonder laced his voice.

His gaze drifted upwards to the bamboo-woven constellations, which now appeared as not merely an artistic depiction created from nature but as a map—a secret garden concealed by the night itself, representing the final mystery to unraveling the curse we’d set out to break.

“Try lighting something.” My suggestion was merely a formality to confirm the theory unfolding in my thoughts.

Sir Jiang struck a match and touched it to a torch, but the flame sputtered and died as quickly as it had sparked, unable to pierce the enchantment that shielded this space. This darkness remained impervious to ordinary light, affirming that only Lumis’s otherworldly glow—which had been my steadfast companion from the start—could unveil the truths hidden in this shadowed realm and guide us to the healing we sought.

I took my lantern down from its niche, glancing at my companions to see if they could still see the light. Although Lumis’s light dimmed significantly once it was no longer reflecting the crystals, the others made no move to recreate our human chain. Casting my light about for direction, I started off, the others trailing behind me as we hunted for the herb we needed.

The vivid image of the mural etched into our minds contrasted sharply with the barren stretches of terrain that extended before us, broken only by the nearly-dead bamboo stalks. At first glance we couldn’t find any plant resembling the celestial depiction. I recalled how Lumis’s light had transformed the space, revealing secrets hidden in plain sight, and stopped my wandering, tilting my head to look back at the tree constellation, with its roots that stretched towards the north, deeper into this land of darkness.

“The roots.” I pointed upward. “We need to follow them and find our way to the stars…or at least as close as possible. A plant born from starlight will not grow under this canopy.”

Darcel nodded, his trust in my judgment as unwavering as his grip he kept on my hand. The others followed suit. With only my lantern’s gentle glow a stark beacon against the encompassing dark, we pressed forward, allowing the silence and darkness to fully envelop us as we stepped into the unknown, trusting in Lumis’s light.

I led them through the rustling bamboo, frequently glancing up to see that we still followed the root map; the dried stalks gradually grew more sparse as our path wound upward to the highest peak accessible within the confines of our eerie surroundings. The terrain grew increasingly treacherous, the path obscured not just by darkness but by a pervasive sense of dread that seemed to seep from the very ground.

Yet as we ventured deeper into the shadows, a miraculous transformation began. Tiny white lights flickered to life around us, like stars winking into existence in a clear night sky. At first they were sparse, but they gradually multiplied, illuminating hidden crevices and alcoves in the rock face.

And then I saw it—a cluster of delicate, star-shaped petals glowing faintly in Lumis’s light. The plant was nestled in a particularly shadowy nook, its petals reflecting the light as if mimicking the constellations above—the star flower, the very embodiment of the celestial elements depicted in the mural.

We gathered around the herb, staring at it in awe as we reflected on the path that had led us here. The plant’s location had been an enigmatic puzzle, its existence intertwined with the fabric of the shadow realm itself, revealing itself only to those brave enough to step into the dark with the faith we had forged throughout our journey.

I nodded, heart pounding as I reached for one of the glowing blossoms. Its petals trembled beneath my touch, as if recognizing the seeker who had finally come for it. The moment I plucked it, the light around us surged—a final, brilliant confirmation that we had found what we had been seeking.

Darcel was the first to speak, his words an echo for my own reflections. “Obtaining this herb required more than just our eyes to see; it needed our courage to believe in the unseen…and our faith in the light we possessed to bring us to this point.”

Gratitude for the journey that had taught me so much about trust, courage, and the unseen forces that guide us filled my touch as I harvested the star herb nestled within the shadowed nooks of the peak. The plant came willingly, as if it had been awaiting me.

The moment I tugged it free, Lumis glowed again, a silent invitation to continue forward to whatever discovery still awaited us. The darkness grew denser and almost palpable as our exploration took us deeper, once more led by my lantern’s faint, otherworldly glow.

The peak leveled off, seeming to lead nowhere, but following an unspoken urge, I climbed to the tip and gasped as I looked down. Hollowed out like a vast, long-extinguished volcano, the mountain expanded into a vast, bowl-like valley that dwarfed us with its sheer size. Silent with awe, we climbed down into the crater, our footsteps soft in the thick dust. The roots of an immense tree spread across the crater’s floor and embedded themselves deep into the mountain. Above us, its branches arched protectively, their majestic span reaching for the open sky that revealed the first light of approaching day.

As we drew closer, recognition dawned with overwhelming clarity. Though I had never seen this natural marvel firsthand, it transcended the legends I had grown up with. The tales enveloped in reverence and wonder scarcely captured the grandeur that unfolded before us.

The wonder before us was no mere tree, but one revered in the herbalist legend that was part of my legacy. “The World Tree,” I murmured in awe.

“You recognize it?” Darcel asked.

I nodded. “It’s one of the legends my family is sworn to protect. It’s a sacred tree known to weave the life force of the entire land together. Its roots are said to stretch into the very heart of the earth, a guardian whose vitality sustains the balance of nature.”

My heart sank. It stood before us blighted, its vital light diminished to a mere shadow of its former radiance. I rested my hand against its nearly blackened trunk, scars rendered by the curse that had leeched the life from this kingdom. Despite the damage that had been rendered upon it, the heart of the land still beat faintly beneath the weight of darkness and oppressive shadow. Finally I understood the warning I’d received so long ago in the apothecary shop. It was clear that shadows were not only seeking the heart, but were close to smothering it.

“Could it be that the World Tree itself requires healing?” I wondered, more to myself than to my companions.

As if in answer, the star herbs we had just collected shimmered with a soft glow, resonating faintly with the dormant energy of the tree, as if it were trying to tell me something. Unlike the soft whispers of the enchanted cherry trees, the tree spoke in a deep, weary groan, as if exhausted from a long fight. I wasn’t sure whether it communicated with me in words or simply impressed its meaning into my mind, but its intent was clear, a plea for help to free it from the burden of the curse that was sapping its life force.

Every element that we’d gathered—the moonsilver herb, the flameheart cactus, and now these star herbs—weren’t just components of our journey, but were destined to revive this ancient guardian. Each element we’d gathered seemed infused with purpose, linked intricately to the World Tree, a possibility that transformed our mission from a quest for healing a land to restoring its very soul.

But merely recalling the wisdom of this ancient legend wasn’t enough for me to know how to act upon it. I stared up at it, pondering the vision we’d seen when we first opened the ancient scroll—the lantern the herbalist had created that highlighted the truth and soothed the dragon. My thoughts began to whirl as I wondered how we could fulfill the prophecy.

“How can we even begin to create a magical light with nothing more than the herbs we’ve gathered and our meager supplies?” I asked in discouragement.

Darcel tipped his head. “Do we need to craft a new lantern when we already have one?”

In response, Lumis flashed brightly and I stared down at it in wonder. Could it be that the prophetic light that we needed had been with us all this time, not only guiding us but prepared to play its role in this final act to break the curse?

Darcel’s arm came around me, drawing me close enough to whisper in my ear. “Perhaps this magnificent tree will show us the way. I’m confident in your ability to decipher whatever message it might impart.”

At his encouragement, I placed my hand on the trunk, maintaining my hold around Darcel’s with my other. At first the air was still and silent, but eventually the familiar wordless language caressed my thoughts in the faint, whispered groan of the World Tree, so quiet that if I hadn’t been touching it I might not have heard it at all.

Guided by the tree’s quiet instructions, with careful reverence I positioned Lumis within a natural alcove cradled by the tree’s gnarled roots. Hesitation momentarily stilled me—once I proceeded, there would be no undoing any potential failure. But the confidence in myself and my capabilities I’d cultivated throughout our journey fortified my resolve, giving me the strength to press forward.

I arranged the herbs in a circle around Lumis, each meticulously positioned. As I did, Lumis’s light reached out, tenderly touching each herb. The glow enfolded them, drawing them into its radiance to weave their essences into the heart of its flame, enveloping them in a warm, golden embrace.

The transformation was immediate and mesmerizing—the light magnified, traveling up the World Tree’s trunk, illuminating the bark with brilliant patterns. The glow ascended to the canopy, igniting it from within. Sparkles cascaded down the branches, streaming like liquid sunlight into the trunk and permeating the roots, heralding the tree’s awakening from an age-long slumber.

Darcel caught my hand, drawing me close as we watched, our faces bathed in the light that seemed infinitely brighter after all the darkness we’d traveled through.

As the light spread, the roots began to radiate a golden warmth that seeped into the earth, spreading beneath the soil’s surface like lifelines to distant parts of the kingdom, as if the tree was silently communicating with the land beyond the clearing’s confines. The ground beneath our feet warmed, filling me with a strong sense of well-being, awe, and joy.

Time lost all meaning as we remained in that reverent moment, basking in the beauty before us. The healing’s wondrous effects became even more apparent when we finally emerged back outside. The oppressive overcast had dissipated, giving way to the early brushstrokes of dawn, lifting the oppressive shadows that had once shrouded the kingdom. The blighted earth was rejuvenating, with fresh greenery already piercing through the once hardened soil. I bent close to examine a black-edged leaf, marveling to see the darkness visibly receding from it before my eyes.

By the light and the essence of our journey’s collected herbs, the World Tree had been rekindled, once more standing as a beacon of hope and a testament of belief in the unseen. In healing the tree, we had not only concluded our quest but also ushered in a new era for the kingdom—one of renewal and enduring protection.

The dawn that greeted us was more than a new day for Lumeria—it held a promise of endless possibilities for my own life moving forward. Darcel turned to me, his eyes alight with something more profound than the victory we had just achieved. Sir Jiang and Kael drew back, allowing us some privacy.

Darcel enfolded me in his arms, his presence a familiar comfort midst the whirlwind of hopeful change. “Mei.” His low voice carried the weight of a moment he seemed to have been crafting even as we fought through shadows and curses. “Now that we've come through darkness and back into the light together, I have another quest in mind, one only you can fulfill.”

I pulled back just enough to look at him, and my heart lifted in hope, but even amid the reverence of the moment I couldn’t resist teasing him. “Another quest? You’re certainly a demanding prince. Good thing you’re so dashing. What are you needing from me this time?”

“A most urgent quest, one I sincerely hope you’ll accept: your prince no longer requires your services as an herbalist, but those regarding a more personal matter of the heart.” As he spoke, his arms tightened around me, drawing me closer. “Will you marry me?”

My heart soared, even as the playful seriousness of his words drew a laugh from me, one that echoed our newfound lightness. “You recruited an herbalist and now want me as a wife? That wasn’t in my initial contract.” But despite my mock protests, I nestled deeper into his tender embrace.

“It appears you failed to read the fine print for when a prince falls madly in love with a woman as captivating as you. Perhaps it’s time we discussed the terms of a new contract, one far more binding.”

Darcel’s gaze dropped to my lips with a rakish glint. His playful yet earnest proposition left me breathless, a mix of surprise and deep affection enveloping me. Amidst the renewal of the land, Darcel was offering another and more joyous renewal—our bright future together.

Naturally I met his challenge head on, stepping into the role he offered with an affectionate smile. “Persuasion? I believe that’s a negotiation I could enjoy.”

His laughter melded with mine as he responded with a kiss, one tender yet promising challenges of its own as we sealed our shared future. As we stood together with the world around us blossoming anew, I realized that the true magic of our journey had not just been the restoration of a kingdom, but the forging of a bond that no darkness could dim.