Landor returned to the hut with Daren and began making preparations. He packed some meat jerky, some waterskins, and other necessities. Daren asked, "Will all this be enough?"
Landor replied, "This is only for emergencies. Celestria provides for those who can take. Remember that."
He then sharpened his axes. He also sharpened a short knife and gave it to Daren. He said, "This is not for defending yourself. It is a reminder that you are no longer the helpless kid that I took in a year ago. Keep it close"
Then they went to the village centre. They found the Chief and the Council waiting for them.
Daren asked, "So, how do we get to Celestria?"
The Chief looked at Daren and said, "Summon your Anima, and the rest will be made clear by itself."
Daren did as he was told. He sat down cross-legged and summoned his Anima. The banyan tree appeared behind him. Landor also sat down in front of him. At first, nothing happened. So Daren actively tried looking for Celestria through his Anima. Just like he used to sense ambient essence. He felt something.
It was as if a higher power had descended, scanning him and Landor. His Anima began glowing. It almost became blinding, forcing the Chief and the Council members to shield their eyes. When the glow dissipated, the duo had disappeared.
When Daren and Landor opened their eyes, Valm Village were gone.
The sky above was fractured, its blue torn apart by floating landmasses that drifted lazily, glowing with faint veins of essence. The ground beneath him pulsed with life, every blade of grass sharp with energy. Even the air felt alive, dense, humming with power that made every breath feel like swallowing lightning.
Beside him, Landor had already gotten ready, axe in hand, scanning the surroundings. His expression was calm, but his shoulders were tight. He muttered, "Celestria. It hasn't changed."
Daren pushed himself to his feet, still dazed. His Banyan Anima had not disappeared; its roots dug faintly into this strange soil, trembling as though eager. Violet wisterias quivered in the heavy air, as if they recognised this place. Daren whispered, "Uncle Landor… everything feels… stronger."
Landor nodded. "Good. But stronger cuts both ways. Beasts here are not like those in the Plains. They are Animakin, born of essence itself. They are much more dangerous than the beasts that we fight normally. Beings that gain strength by just surviving. The longer they live, the stronger they become."
A rustling sound made Daren freeze. From the shadows of colossal trees — each trunk as wide as ten huts — stepped a wolf. No, not a wolf. Its body shimmered with runes, a single horn protruding from its skull, glowing faintly. Its eyes locked onto them, gold and feral.
Daren's breath caught in his throat. The beast's presence pressed against him, heavier than anything he had felt before. His Anima stirred violently, roots twitching.
"Uncle—"
Landor stepped forward. His axe glinted. "Stay back."
The Animakin lunged, speed blinding. Landor moved like iron crashing through the air. One swing — the beast's body hit the ground, its horn cracking, its essence dispersing into the soil.
Daren stood frozen, chest heaving. The fight had lasted only seconds. Landor glanced back at him and said, "This is the gap. You're not ready to fight alone yet. But you will be. We will find weaker opponents for you."
He crouched by the corpse, pressing a hand over its chest. "Not every bead is for you. Your Anima must accept it. Until then, you learn. You watch. And you survive."
Daren knelt beside him, staring at the broken beast. His hand trembled as he touched the still-warm hide. The banyan behind him shivered, roots digging deeper into Celestria's soil as though hungry for more. Its hanging roots drained the corpse, and Daren felt a rush like nothing he had experienced before.
He whispered, "I'll find the one meant for me. I'll prove it."
Landor rose, eyes fixed on the dark forest ahead where other roars echoed. He placed a hand on Daren's shoulder, steady and grounding.
"Then steel yourself. The Plains taught you hunger. But Celestria… Celestria will teach you to struggle. But we must move now. Wolves rarely move alone. Its pack must be nearby."
Together, they stepped deeper into the living wilds. A week passed, and they still hadn't found a suitable Animakin. But still, Daren had become stronger. Under Landor's guidance, Daren had begun fighting some of the weaker 10-year-old Animakin. He gained more control over the roots and discovered new ways in which he could use them.
Not just to drain, but to trap by binding his enemies, defending by forming woven shields, and even attacking by using the roots as whips. Of course, he had to be careful because if he pushed them too much, the roots would break. That is why their goal was to find a Plant Animakin that would strengthen the banyan's roots and its draining ability.
They finally had some luck after another two days. They had ventured into a strange grove, but Landor saw something that made him stop dead in his tracks. The Animakin looked almost serene at first glance.
Its trunk was smooth and pale, shining faintly like polished ivory beneath the light. A gentle shimmer of green essence pulsed beneath the bark, flowing like veins carrying liquid sunlight.
Its crown swayed, though no wind touched it, covered in leaves of soft silver-green that gave off a subtle glow. When those leaves rustled, the air around it felt lighter, fresher—like standing beneath the shade of a healing tree in midsummer.
But the ground told another story. The roots spread endlessly, weaving a vast lattice beneath the soil. Wherever they touched, grass grew greener, flowers unfurled, and dying shrubs suddenly blossomed again. It was as if the land itself breathed through this creature.
When it moved, the earth stirred gently, not in menace but in quiet inevitability. The roots responded to its will, rising from the soil like guiding hands, wrapping with both firmness and care, binding not to strangle, but to hold fast, as though reminding the world that all life was connected.
Its eyes were pools of golden-green light, calm yet unyielding, like the heart of the forest itself watching over intruders. Facing it, one did not feel terror, but the weight of life's persistence—unyielding, patient, and impossible to escape.
Landor said, "We've finally found it. We have found your Origin Bead."