The "dawn" of the Root Layer had not yet appeared, but Orlen had already completed his preparations. He kept the amber pendant pressed close to his chest, ensuring his iris light filter was properly worn, though this seemed unnecessary in the Root Layer. Calmur had prepared a backpack woven from tree resin for him, containing several days' rations and a small bottle of Root Honey.
"Remember, Root Honey is more concentrated than Light Honey," Calmur instructed. "In an emergency, a small sip can restore considerable energy. But use it sparingly; the upper environment will dilute its effectiveness."
Eliel approached, holding a cloak made of special material. "Wear this; it will help you adapt to energy fluctuations in different environments. This is traditional equipment for Darkened State Residents, woven from root secretions and special fungal fibers."
Orlen put on the cloak and immediately felt a gentle enveloping sensation, like a second skin. The cloak was deep brown, its surface shimmering with faint metallic luster, blending with the surrounding environment.
"I had hoped to give you more training time," Eliel said, "but the situation doesn't look good. Scouts from the Root Layer report that Gu Tribe activity above has significantly increased, with multiple connection points already occupied."
"We'll take a little-known route," Calmur added. "Through the ancient nutrient transport tubes. These tubes haven't been used for years; the Gu Tribe probably won't monitor them."
Orlen nodded, feeling both nervous and determined. Last night, he had again dreamed of his mother's face, those amber-colored eyes full of expectation and trust. In the dream, she placed a shimmering seed in his hand, her mouth silently saying something. When he woke, the pendant was emitting a faint pulse, as if responding to that dream.
"Are you ready?" Calmur asked.
"I've been ready for fifteen years," Orlen replied, his voice containing a determination even he found unfamiliar.
After bidding farewell to Eliel and other Root Layer residents, they followed a hidden side path. The route was narrow and winding, with luminous fungi sparsely distributed on the walls, providing minimal illumination. Calmur walked ahead, occasionally stopping to check the route and energy flow.
"These tubes were the main nutrient transport channels in the Spirit Branch Tree's early stage," Calmur explained. "As the tree grew, new more efficient channels formed, and these old tubes were gradually forgotten. But they still connect to the Spirit Branch Tree's core, transmitting weak but stable energy."
The atmosphere in the tube was stuffy, bearing an ancient scent. Orlen could feel that the energy here differed from the main area of the Root Layer—more primitive, more... pure. With each step, he could sense subtle pulses underfoot, as if walking on something alive.
"The Spirit Branch Tree has no true 'dead zones,'" Calmur seemed to sense Orlen's feelings. "Even the oldest, most abandoned parts still maintain some degree of vitality. That's the wonder of the Spirit Branch Tree—the entire body has consciousness, the entire body has life."
They proceeded silently, time seemingly flowing slowly in this ancient passage. Orlen estimated they had been walking for hours, but without reference points, such guesses were meaningless.
Suddenly, Calmur stopped, raising his hand for silence. Faint vibrations and scraping sounds came from ahead.
"Something is in the tube," Calmur said softly. "Not the Spirit Branch Tree's natural activity."
They moved forward cautiously, the sounds becoming clearer. After turning a bend, the tube widened slightly, and ahead several small Gu Tribe members were gnawing at the walls, collecting a liquid seeping from the cracks.
"Seekers," Calmur explained in a low voice. "The Gu Tribe's scouts, collecting information and resources. They operate alone but maintain a mental connection with the main group. If discovered, the entire Gu Tribe swarm will know our location."
Orlen held his breath. These Gu Tribe members were relatively small, about the length of an arm, shaped like enlarged beetles, but with complex patterns on their backs, shimmering with metallic luster. They were focused on collecting, seemingly unaware of the visitors yet.
"We can't startle them, nor can we let them continue forward," Calmur whispered. "This tube leads directly to the main area of the Root Layer."
As Orlen considered a solution, the amber pendant on his chest suddenly grew slightly warm. He gently touched it, feeling a peculiar impulse. Some knowledge, or instinct, suddenly formed in his mind.
"I have an idea," he quietly told Calmur. "But I need to try something I've never done before."
Orlen closed his eyes, focusing his attention on the pendant. He imagined a connection channel extending from the pendant to his fingertips, then gently stroked the tube wall. "Awaken," he called in his mind. "Please respond to me."
At first, nothing happened. Then, the wall beneath his palm began to vibrate slightly, a subtle warmth flowing from his fingertips. The patterns on the wall started to glow, a stream of light spreading along the tube wall, circling around them, extending forward.
When the light approached the Gu Tribe members, a deep humming suddenly echoed in the tube, like some ancient welcoming song. The Gu Tribe members were clearly startled; they screeched and quickly retreated along their path, soon disappearing around the bend of the tube.
Calmur watched this scene in shock: "This... this is Serra's ability. The Spirit Branch Tree had a special response to her, and it appears you've inherited this trait."
Orlen was equally surprised, feeling the energy flowing within him, both familiar and foreign: "I just... felt it would respond. As if the Spirit Branch Tree had been waiting to be awakened."
"This confirms our speculation," Calmur said, his eyes flashing with hope. "You are not just a bridge between two worlds, but a communicator chosen by the Spirit Branch Tree. This is the connection that neither the Gu Tribe nor the upper layers can understand."
They continued forward, with Orlen discovering he could sense the energy flow in the tube. Whenever they encountered a fork, he could intuitively choose the correct direction. This ability both delighted and unsettled him—he had never received training, so how were these abilities naturally emerging?
After several turns and climbs, Calmur confirmed they had reached the edge of the middle layer. The tube became more humid, with green moss appearing on the walls, a sign of light penetration.
"The exit is not far ahead," Calmur said. "Once we leave the tube, we'll be in an open area, more easily detected."
As they approached the exit, sounds from outside began to filter in—shouts, running footsteps, and an ominous humming. Calmur carefully pushed aside the bark covering the exit, peering outside.
"The situation doesn't look good," he said gravely. "The Gu Tribe is advancing faster than expected. Many Leaf Dwellers are fleeing, and the middle layer has already begun to fall into chaos."
Orlen also looked outside. The tube exit was located inside a large tree hollow, opening onto a platform on the trunk that connected several paths extending in different directions. The platform was crowded with panicking Leaf Dwellers rushing toward the upper passage, while several guards dressed in elaborate costumes tried to maintain order, clearly overwhelmed.
"The upper layers have already begun blocking passages," Calmur observed. "These guards are limiting the number of people going up. They would rather let the lower layer Leaf Dwellers face the Gu Tribe than share upper layer resources."
In the distance, black shadows were spreading across the trunk—the Gu Tribe's vanguard approaching this area. Panicked cries grew louder, chaos imminent.
"We can't take the main route," Calmur quickly assessed. "But I remember there's a climbing vine nearby that leads directly to Ms. Adelle's residential area."
They quietly left the hollow, creeping along the edge of the platform, avoiding the crowded people and inattentive guards. Calmur led Orlen to a depression on the platform where a thick vine hung down, hidden in the folds of bark.
"Hold tight," Calmur said. "It's a considerable distance upward; we must reach the top before the Gu Tribe discovers this route."
They climbed along the vine, with Orlen feeling the change in the surrounding environment—the air became fresher, the light gradually stronger. In the distance, the humming of the Gu Tribe and cries of Leaf Dwellers could still be faintly heard, but diminished with increasing height.
When they reached the end of the vine, a familiar scene appeared before them—this was the junction between the middle and upper layers, where Ms. Adelle's residence was located. However, the sight before Orlen nearly stopped his heart.
Ms. Adelle's cabin no longer existed, only charred remains. The specially tended area behind the house had been dug up, leaving a deep pit. The entire area showed obvious signs of struggle—broken branches, burnt roots, scratches on the bark.
"We're too late," Calmur said heavily.
Orlen rushed to the pit, kneeling at its edge. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, and he felt dizzy. His foster mother's home, his home, had been destroyed; the place that might have hidden the Spirit Branch Tree seed had been emptied.
"Ms. Adelle..." he whispered, his voice trembling with fear.
Calmur approached, placing his hand on Orlen's shoulder: "Don't despair; perhaps she escaped. Maybe..."
Orlen didn't hear the rest, as he noticed something unusual at the bottom of the pit. There, beneath a piece of bark, something gleamed with a faint amber light. He slid down into the pit, carefully lifting the bark.
It was a letter, written in glowing ink on a leaf, still carrying Ms. Adelle's distinctive fragrance, containing just a few brief lines:
"Orlen, as you can see, they have found this place. But don't worry, I've moved your mother's treasure. Seek out Helana, the Watcher in the Forest of Recollection. She knows the next step. May the Spirit Branch Tree protect you, my child."