Once the st drop of blood had been collected, the group wasted no time in butchering the wolf. They worked efficiently, skinning it and cutting the meat into manageable portions. Some gathered the fangs and cws, knowing they could be useful for crafting or trade.

  Diego, meanwhile, knelt by the wolf's head, gripping its horn firmly before breaking it off with a sharp twist. He examined it for a moment, nodding in satisfaction before tucking it away.

  After taking a moment to admire the vibrant blue glow of the forest, Diego refocused on their goal.

  "Alright, spread out," he ordered. "Look for a spring or any source of water. Stay within earshot and don't wander too far."

  Most of the group hesitated, exchanging uncertain gnces. One of them finally gathered the courage to ask, "Isn't it dangerous to split up?"

  Diego shook his head. "Normally, yes. But this isn't the Withered Canopy. The Forest of Vitality is different. This forest rejects the wooden beasts we fought. We’ll be fine as long as we stay within earshot. Just don't go wandering too far."

  Though still wary, the group nodded and proceeded with caution, spreading out to search for water.

  Before everyone fully scattered, Diego gave one final remark. "Remember don't wander too far from the blue trees. If the trees start turning green or any other color, turn back immediately."

  His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. The group exchanged nods, now more mindful of their surroundings as they carefully moved through the glowing forest.

  Rain, Emily, and Diego were the only ones left. Rain sat on the ground, still feeling the toll of the hit he took from the wolf earlier.

  He raised a brow and asked, "So, can you finally tell me what you pn to do with the wolf's blood?"

  Diego cast a quick gnce at Rain before looking back at the glowing trees. "I pn on turning one of our members into an Essence Whisperer."

  Rain’s eyes widened in surprise. "So that's what you were after."

  Emily remarked, "This situation is truly convenient. The ritual to become an Essence Whisperer takes about six hours, and the aspirant needs complete focus."

  She quickly added, "And with the Forest of Vitality, we have a safe pce to complete it safely." Chuckling, she said, "Maybe our luck is finally turning around."

  Rain leaned back against a tree, letting Emily’s words sink in.

  ‘So that’s what the wolf’s blood was for… I figured it had some special use, but turning someone into an Essence Whisperer? That’s big.’

  His gaze flickered to Diego. ‘He must’ve been pnning as soon as he saw the wolf. But who’s going to take the ritual? Does he already have someone in mind?’

  Rain’s fingers absentmindedly tapped against his knee. ‘Six hours of complete focus… if we get attacked during that time, it could ruin everything.’ He let out a small sigh. ‘Well, I guess that’s why Diego and Emily were gd we found this pce.’

  Looking at the glowing blue trees around them, Rain couldn’t help but feel like this moment was too good to st.

  Rain hesitated for a moment before finally working up the courage to ask, "So… who do you have in mind to become an Essence Whisperer?"

  Diego didn’t answer right away. He kept his gaze on the glowing trees, as if lost in thought. Then, after a brief pause, he turned to Rain with a small smirk.

  "You’ll find out soon enough."

  Before Rain could respond, Grayson’s voice called out from a distance.

  "Hey! Over here! I found the spring!"

  Diego immediately turned toward the sound. "That was fast. Let’s go," he said, already moving.

  Rain pushed himself up, but a sharp pain shot through his body. He gritted his teeth, trying to shake it off.

  Emily noticed and raised a brow. "Still hurting?" She gave him a knowing smirk. "Don’t worry, that won’t st much longer."

  Rain let out a small scoff but didn’t argue. Instead, he forced himself to follow.

  Almost everyone had already gathered around the spring. Its waters shimmered with an eerie, ethereal glow, casting faint ripples of light onto the surrounding blue trees. The air felt thick with energy, as if the forest itself was watching.

  Diego took a moment to admire the glowing spring before speaking. "Everyone, drink from it. Let’s make use of this pce while we still can."

  Some of the group hesitated, eyeing the glowing water with suspicion. It looked almost too good to be true.

  The elderly man from Bryan's group hesitated before asking, "Are you sure it's safe to drink, Captain?"

  Diego responded confidently, "Yes. What you're looking at is the Spring of Vitality—the reason the forest turned blue." He paused before adding, "Even a single sip can restore stamina, quench thirst, and stave off hunger."

  Despite his assurance, most of the group remained hesitant. That was until Grayson stepped forward, crouched by the spring, and scooped up a handful of the shimmering water. Without hesitation, he took a sip, letting the excess slip through his fingers.

  Grayson stood there for a moment, eyes wide as the sensation washed over him. A renewed energy surged through his body, chasing away the exhaustion of their journey.

  "By the gods," he breathed, flexing his fingers as if testing his strength. "This is amazing! I feel like I'm at my peak."

  One by one, the others followed suit, scooping up the shimmering water and drinking cautiously. Their initial hesitation quickly turned to astonishment as the refreshing sensation spread through their bodies. Murmurs of surprise and amazement filled the air, some stretching their limbs, others shaking their heads in disbelief at how invigorated they felt.

  Rain followed the others' example, leaning down to take a sip of the glowing water. The moment it touched his lips, a soothing warmth spread through his body. The lingering pain from his encounter with the wolf vanished almost instantly, and the wound on his shoulder—the one he'd been carrying since his fight with the Harrowstalkers—sealed shut as if it had never been there in the first pce. He flexed his arm in disbelief, feeling lighter, stronger.

  "This is... unreal," Rain muttered, gncing at his fully healed shoulder.

  After everyone had taken their turn drinking from the Spring of Vitality, Diego took a deep breath and stepped forward. His voice carried over the murmuring group.

  "I have an announcement to make," he began, his tone firm yet measured. "Some of you might still be wondering why we drained the wolf’s blood earlier. Now, I'll give you the answer."

  The group fell silent, all eyes on Diego.

  "The blood and horn of that wolf possess magical properties capable of unlocking one’s ability to converse with essence," he expined. "In other words, they can allow someone to become an Essence Whisperer."

  A stunned silence followed before murmurs spread like wildfire through the crowd. Eyes widened, some in shock, others in excitement. Becoming an Essence Whisperer was a rare and valuable opportunity—one that could change a person’s fate entirely.

  The murmurs grew louder, a mix of curiosity, surprise, and even a hint of skepticism. But Diego ignored them, his voice cutting through the noise with unwavering authority.

  "Emily and I have already chosen who will undergo the ritual," he announced.

  He turned his gaze toward Rain.

  "And that person is Rain."

  All eyes snapped to the boy. Some looked bewildered, others contemptive. Rain himself froze for a moment, his mind catching up to the weight of Diego’s words.

  One of the group members hesitated before speaking up. "Why him?"

  Diego met the question head-on. "Good question. Rain has been with me since the start of this expedition, and time and time again, he’s proven himself. He’s sharp, reliable, when it mattered most. He was the one who gave me the opening to take down the wolf. If anything he gave himself this chance.

  A few in the group still looked uncertain, but Diego's reasoning carried weight.

  Another voice spoke up, hesitant but curious. "But… isn't he still just a kid?"

  Diego crossed his arms. "A kid who has fought alongside us, saved lives, and held his own in this forest. Age doesn't matter—capability does. And Rain has proven himself more than capable."

  Rain, still processing, felt the weight of everyone’s gazes on him. He hadn’t expected this—hadn’t even thought about becoming an Essence Whisperer. The idea of wielding such power was almost unreal.

  Emily smirked. "Besides, do any of you actually think you deserve it more?"

  The group fell silent.

  Rain was left in deep thought.

  'Me? An Essence Whisperer?'

  He gnced around, catching glimpses of the group's reactions—some surprised, some skeptical. He couldn’t bme them. There were plenty of strong, capable people here, so why him?

  'Is this really happening?'

  His fingers twitched slightly. He had spent so long just trying to survive, to get out of this cursed forest. Now, an opportunity like this was being handed to him. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it yet. Excitement? Pressure? Both?

  Rain swallowed, keeping his face neutral, but deep down, his mind raced.

  'If I accept this… what will it mean for me?'

  Diego met Rain's gaze, his expression serious. "Will you accept this opportunity, Rain?"

  Silence settled over the group as all eyes turned to him. Rain could feel the weight of their stares, anticipation thick in the air.

  He took a steady breath, pushing aside any hesitation. There was no room for doubt.

  With unwavering resolve, he met Diego’s gaze and answered, "Yes."

  Diego gave a firm nod, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

  "Good," he said. "Then let's begin the preparations."

  The murmurs in the group quieted as everyone processed Rain's decision. Some looked intrigued, others skeptical, but no one spoke against it.

  Rain took a deep breath, steadying himself. There was no turning back now.