1020 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The presence is palpable. I instinctively moved towards it. A barren rocky mountain, devoid of any life forms — a surprising omission, given the multitude of presences now detectable through my intuition. Why had they suddenly materialized when I previously sensed none? To confirm this, I moved alongside the Heavenly Demon. Before long, we discovered a space. Much like other places, it was laden with rocks, but there existed a crevice just enough for a person to pass through. And beyond that... ‘There.’ Something came into view. Someone was standing guard in front of a space resembling a doorway. However... ‘……Not human.’ It wasn't human. In fact, since arriving in the Man Gye, I hadn't encountered anything I could call human. This wasn't even close. The Wolya Tribe, with animal ears and tails, were at least reminiscent of humans, if such a comparison could be made. ‘That's definitely not.’ What stood before me now didn’t qualify as human, even remotely. A complete beast. It resembled the form the Wolya transformed into under the moonlight. It stood on two legs, but its features were entirely beast-like. Truly a beast. ‘It seems… dog-like?’ A dog on two legs. If I were to categorize it, it looked akin to a wild dog. A wild dog standing upright, gripping a spear with one hand. ‘What on earth is that?’ I couldn’t even be surprised anymore. I’d seen walking lizards and diminutive old men before; this was hardly shocking. What mattered was that it was indeed a living being. Despite previously being undetectable, my intuition was now overwhelmed with countless presences. The focal point must be beyond that spot. ‘Hmm.’ It was located where rocks veiled it on all sides. Even the door sat within the cave, implying that direct confrontation might be necessary to pass through. I stepped back a little. I wished to avoid unnecessary conflict. There had to be another way. I retreated, then leaped up. Ascended high into the sky, surveying the mountain below. ‘Let's see.’ From above, it appeared simply as a mountain of rock. From this altitude, any space leading to the cave was invisible. Was the only way indeed to break through? ‘Sigh.’ Reluctantly bracing myself to use force, a moment of hesitation arose within me. ‘Hmm?’ A strange anomaly caught my eye during the descent. Thump. The sensation of my heart pounding. As soon as I felt it, I sharpened my focus. With my innate sight activated, I examined the rocky landscape again. And then… ‘Found it.’ I discerned a different yet similar landscape, and a smile crept across my face. Thud-! Descending from a lofty height, I landed on solid ground. Not at the earlier spot, but rather on a higher hill. As soon as I landed, the Heavenly Demon flew to my side, as if eagerly waiting. Ignoring that, I concentrated on my innate sight. And threads unfurled in all directions. My vision filled with a barrier constructed of golden threads. This could only mean one thing. ‘Spellcraft.’ This mountain held a very intricate web of spells. ‘Is this something to be thankful for?’ Describing it as fortunate felt odd, but relief washed over me. The presence of these spells meant that… ‘The entrance need not be the cave.’ They had concealed other entry points with spellcraft. This suggested more than one entrance existed. “Let’s see…” What kind of spell was this? With a calm mind, I examined it piece by piece. ‘This thread construction, I’ve never seen before.’ It differed slightly from the methods shown to me by the tortoise or from what I had seen until now. So, this is how it could be used. As I examined it here and there, I suddenly let out a small chuckle. ‘Am I a madman?’ Despite the earlier tension, learning of the spell’s existence calmed my thoughts. It was truly amusing. With a soft movement, I began to manipulate the spell. I didn’t try to grasp it; my hand subtly passed through the threads. ‘Is it okay to touch this?’ I considered the angles. Would it be alright to unravel this, or would it be best to break through the entrance a bit roughly? Such thoughts fleetingly passed, but my decision had already been made. I adjusted the movement of my hand passing through the threads. Woooom---!!! My heart reacted. The coiled spell ring rotated slightly. In that instant. Ziiiiing-!! Among the threads spread in every direction, I grasped a few strands. Holding my breath, I focused all my senses on them. Where did they originate and how were they woven? What lay at the end of the strands? To decipher all of this, my mind raced at full speed. Giiiiing. Simultaneously, the ring vibrated, and as it sped up, my grip on the threads tightened. A careless touch could snap them. The strings were that fine and delicate. Even knowing this, my hand moved without hesitation. To an observer, it might seem indifferent to the strands snapping or not. Yet. ‘……From here, backwards.’ Lack of hesitation did not equate to thoughtlessness. My senses were wholly attuned to the touch of the string at my fingertips. Although any misstep would be troublesome, it didn’t deter my resolve. Strangely, it had always been that way. Since I first encountered spellcraft, despite my normally worrisome nature, any trace of hesitation vanished. It was as if I inherently knew what actions to take. ‘The reversed weave, tie it again.’ My hands moved swiftly. Each flick of the fingers sent a tremor through the air. ‘Tying this knot…’ Woooom---!! Energy was draining away. It didn’t matter. ‘Tie it once more.’ Focused solely on my current actions, I seamlessly continued to weave knots with the strands. In an instant, all the threads were pulled together and woven into a single knot. It seemed tangled and complex, yet there was an unmistakable order woven within. “...Phew.” I let out a weary sigh and reached out to complete the spellwork. My outstretched hand grasped the loop I had crafted above the knot, and with a gentle tug— Huaaaaaaahhhh----!!! The bound threads unraveled in a blink, unfurling like a golden flower. As it revealed itself spectacularly, the radiant gleam filled my entire field of view. It's beautiful. The brightness from the interwoven beams almost blinds my eyes. I couldn't help but let out a slight gasp, captivated by the scene. Wooooong. Just as quickly as the threads spread, the air before me began to shimmer. An array of colors mingled together, distorting the space gradually. "Ah." And in an instant, the view morphed completely. What had been barren rock beneath my feet now seemed to dissolve like smoke, revealing a hidden area. It felt as though the clouds had parted. What emerged was another region within a large circular mountain range. “…Well, what do we have here?” I was slightly taken aback by the transformation. Earlier, no sign of vegetation was visible, but the newly unveiled mountain was teeming with trees and plants. The scenery was stunning. So much so that it instinctively prompted words of admiration. A gentle stream trickled through the valley, and lush greenery blanketed the landscape in serene hues of blue and green. It was only now that the invigorating scent of the flora reached my nostrils. Feeling this, I glanced at the Heavenly Demon. “Let’s go. It will close soon.” I hadn’t fully dispelled the charm. Being aware it was merely a concealment barrier, I only created a temporal passage to enter. Soon, what covered the ceiling would rise once again. We had to enter before that happened, so together, the Heavenly Demon and I descended into the area. Thud-! Dropping from a high point, I landed gently. Whereas moments ago it had been stone ground, now it felt like the earth beneath my feet. Moreover. “…It’s not a fake.” The presences felt outside were not false; entering the space, I now sensed them all around. Chirrup chirrup-! The sound of birds perched on the trees. Chirr-reeeeek--!! Even the cicadas chirping in the grass. Things that had been eerily silent now resonated and could be felt. As I took in the environment, an unexpected vibration echoed through the air. It wasn’t a physical vibrational shake but rather the charms activating anew and veiling the ceiling. A thick mist, resembling a dark cloud, began to obscure the ceiling again. Interestingly enough, though it appeared to obscure, the mist was semi-transparent, allowing the outside to be fully visible. The sky, painted in hues of magenta, seeped through. That indicates… ‘So from the outside, it’s invisible, but from within, you can see out.’ This was fascinating in its own right. ‘Unlike the Volcano Sect, which formed entire spaces…’ This seemed merely a shielding barrier. My mind urged me to delve into it more thoroughly. Hence, just as I was about to turn my innate sight inward for a deeper examination— “If you will excuse me.” “…!” A voice suddenly interrupted from the side, drawing my gaze. There, before me, fluttered a small white butterfly. “What…is this?” A voice emanated from the butterfly. It was a woman's voice. “…What’s this now?” In confusion, I questioned aloud. “I am the spirit responsible for this place,” the butterfly introduced itself. It seems like you're looking for recommendations or feedback to help decide what to purchase or read next. 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