Chapter 140 – The Village Beyond the Forest

Chapter 140: Chapter 140 – The Village Beyond the Forest

The expedition left the observation station shortly after sunrise. Orion had doubled the number of instructors accompanying the students, and the researchers carried additional equipment designed to detect the strange resonance from a greater distance. Nobody knew what they would find twelve kilometers east, but the fact that the latest fluctuation had appeared near a populated settlement made the investigation more urgent.

The journey through the forest was uneventful at first. The wildlife that had disappeared from the affected region was gradually returning, and several birds could now be heard among the branches. Yet the farther east they traveled, the more frequently Azrael noticed faint pulses beneath the ground.

"They’re becoming stronger," he said.

Seraphina nodded. "And the life around us is changing again."

Marcus looked between them. "Changing how?"

"The plants are growing differently," Seraphina explained. "Not unnaturally. They’re simply responding to something."

Ryan glanced at the trees. "I don’t see anything."

"You aren’t supposed to," Elena said. "That’s why we brought them."

Marcus frowned. "You know, sometimes you sound exactly like Azrael."

Elena smiled. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

Caelan laughed while Lyanna continued recording the changes around them.

After several hours, the forest began thinning. Beyond the final line of trees was a wide valley surrounded by low hills. Fields stretched across the land, and a small settlement could be seen near the center.

Smoke rose from several chimneys.

People were working in the fields.

Children were running between houses.

Everything looked normal.

Or almost normal.

Azrael stopped at the edge of the forest.

"The resonance is here."

Orion looked toward the settlement.

"Can you tell where?"

Azrael closed his eyes.

The pulse traveled beneath the ground, crossing the valley before disappearing somewhere beneath the village.

"Underneath it."

Seraphina extended her perception.

"There are many life signatures."

She paused.

"And they’re all connected."

Orion’s expression changed.

"Connected?"

"Not physically. Through the ground."

The group proceeded cautiously toward the settlement. As they approached, several villagers noticed the academy uniforms and began gathering near the main road.

An elderly man stepped forward.

"Are you the people from the observation station?"

Orion nodded.

"We are. We’ve come to investigate the recent fluctuations."

The man’s expression became uneasy.

"You felt them too?"

"Yes."

The villagers exchanged nervous looks.

The elderly man sighed.

"They began three nights ago."

Azrael and Seraphina exchanged a glance.

"Three nights?" Seraphina asked.

The man nodded. "At first, we thought it was an earthquake. The ground shook slightly, but nothing collapsed. Then our wells started behaving strangely."

Ryan frowned. "Strangely?"

"The water began glowing at night."

Several villagers nodded.

Marcus looked surprised. "Glowing water?"

The elderly man pointed toward the center of the village.

"Our oldest well."

Orion immediately asked to see it.

The villagers led them through the settlement until they reached a circular stone well surrounded by a low wall. It looked ordinary from the outside, but Azrael could feel the resonance immediately.

It was coming from beneath the well.

Seraphina stepped closer.

"The life energy is strongest here."

The elderly man nodded.

"We stopped using it after the first night."

Orion examined the stone.

"Has anyone fallen ill?"

"No."

"Have there been attacks?"

"No."

"Animals?"

"They avoid the well."

Azrael looked at the surrounding buildings.

"Then why hasn’t anyone left?"

The man gave him a tired smile.

"Because this village has existed for generations. These are our homes."

Azrael understood.

The phenomenon was strange, but there was no evidence that it was harming them.

That didn’t make it safe.

Orion ordered the researchers to establish a small monitoring station around the well. The villagers were asked to remain calm and avoid approaching it until the investigation was complete.

While the researchers worked, Seraphina walked through the village.

She stopped beside a small garden.

Several flowers were growing around a stone boundary.

"They’re healthy."

The village elder looked confused.

"Of course they are."

Seraphina smiled. "The resonance hasn’t damaged the plants."

She touched one of the flowers gently.

Instead of wilting, it opened slightly wider.

A faint golden glow passed through its petals.

Seraphina pulled her hand back.

The flower returned to normal.

Azrael noticed.

"Genesis responded."

She nodded.

"Something beneath the village is affecting life, but it’s not forcing it."

Azrael looked toward the well.

"Then let’s find out what it’s doing."

The researchers soon reported something unusual.

The well wasn’t the source of the resonance.

It was acting as a conductor.

The energy traveled through the underground roots and stone beneath the village, passed through the well, and continued farther east.

Orion studied the readings.

"Again."

The researcher nodded.

"The resonance is moving."

Azrael looked toward the eastern hills.

"There’s something beyond the village."

Seraphina closed her eyes.

She could feel it.

A faint presence beneath the earth, much farther away.

"Yes."

Marcus looked at them.

"Please don’t tell me we’re walking another twelve kilometers."

Ryan groaned.

"We are definitely walking another twelve kilometers."

The group laughed, easing some of the tension.

Orion, however, remained focused on the readings.

"We won’t pursue it today."

Marcus stared at him.

"What?"

"We have confirmed that the phenomenon has reached inhabited areas without causing immediate harm. That’s enough for one day."

Azrael nodded.

The decision made sense.

The resonance was moving, but they still didn’t understand why.

Pursuing it without preparation would teach them little.

Before leaving the village, Orion spoke with the elder and arranged for the academy to maintain contact with the settlement. Researchers would remain for several days to monitor the well and surrounding environment.

As the expedition prepared to return, Seraphina looked toward the eastern hills.

"Azrael."

"I know."

"The next pulse is farther away."

He nodded.

"And stronger."

She smiled slightly.

"Then we’ll be ready when we investigate it."

The twins turned toward the village.

For now, there was no enemy to defeat and no disaster to prevent.

There was only a strange phenomenon moving beneath the land, passing through forests, roots, wells, and settlements without destroying anything.

Whatever its purpose was, they would have to understand it before deciding whether it was something to fear.

And somewhere beyond the eastern hills, another pulse was already beginning.