The silence in the underground basin didn't last long. Arios kept his eyes fixed on the glowing roots of the massive tree, trying to gauge whether the light was stable or fluctuating. Lucy and Liza stayed beside him, neither speaking, both waiting for his cue. The soft thrum of mana beneath their feet vibrated faintly, like the rumble of distant machinery buried deep beneath the earth.
Arios eventually stepped back, letting his senses adjust. "The island's mana flow changed when we entered," he said. "I'm certain of it. We didn't cause this accidentally—this was a trigger."
Lucy's fingers fidgeted with the edges of her gloves. "A trigger for what? Another phase? A guardian? Or something worse?"
Liza stretched her arms behind her neck, but her eyes remained serious. "Whatever it is, it's not part of the normal exam. The academy wouldn't hide a giant glowing tree under a fake basin field."
