Chapter 362: The Day of Departure

The following morning, the Everglades Secret Realm was busier than it had been in days.

Researchers moved between the five Mirrors, recording their energy readings and inspecting the ancient inscriptions.

Regional teams checked the paths surrounding the World Tree, while the expedition’s members gathered their belongings beneath the golden canopy.

The crisis had ended, but leaving the Secret Realm required more than simply walking through the entrance. Their discoveries needed to be documented, the restored network needed supervision, and the injured had to be ready for the journey home.

Arthur watched the activity from a nearby root, Star resting comfortably on his head.

"So much for a peaceful morning," he remarked.

Vedas stood beside him, watching two researchers argue over a set of measurements. "You had an entire evening of peace yesterday. I would consider that a generous allowance."

"An evening isn’t enough."

"Then you should have enjoyed it more instead of talking about your next adventure."

Arthur grinned. "I was thinking about the next adventure. That’s different."

"That is precisely what concerns me."

Before Arthur could reply, a familiar voice called from the path leading into the clearing.

"Arthur!"

Professor Roland hurried toward them, followed by Professor Scolding, Leon, and Metapholes. Roland looked relieved when he spotted the expedition, but that relief lasted only until his gaze moved across the exhausted Awakeners and the damaged equipment piled beside the research station.

He stopped in front of Arthur and looked him over.

"You’re alive," Roland said, exhaling. "Good. Everyone is alive. I was beginning to imagine the worst when the Mirror network started fluctuating yesterday."

"Professor, we’re fine," Arthur assured him.

Roland stared at him. "Fine? I received reports of a corrupted World Tree, a failing ancient network, and a battle inside the heart chamber. Then the readings suddenly stabilized, and nobody could tell me exactly what had happened. Do you understand what that was like?"

Arthur scratched his cheek. "In hindsight, we probably should have sent a more detailed report."

"In hindsight?" Roland repeated. "You nearly lost an entire Secret Realm!"

Professor Scolding arrived beside him, his expression considerably less forgiving.

"That is not the only problem," he said. "I would like to know why students were involved in a situation dangerous enough to threaten the World Tree. Who authorized the expedition to proceed once the corruption reached the heart?"

Arthur opened his mouth, but Sun appeared behind him before he could answer.

"Well, Professor, if you want the complete story, there were corrupted roots everywhere, the ground was practically falling apart, and Ronin had acquired enough power to make fighting him an extremely unpleasant experience. Then we had to coordinate with five Mirrors while preventing the entire network from collapsing."

Sun paused, apparently remembering something important.

"Oh, and there was an artificial core. Destroying it was rather difficult."

Scolding slowly turned toward him.

"Thank you. Your explanation has made the situation sound considerably worse."

Sun nodded. "I’m glad I could help."

"That was not praise."

"Ah."

Mithra covered her mouth, trying to suppress a laugh, while Melo’s five tails swayed with amusement.

"Sun, you have a remarkable talent for making people regret asking questions," Melo observed.

"I merely believe in providing accurate information."

"You could try providing it with a little less enthusiasm," Kong suggested. He was carrying a packed food container under one arm and looked distinctly uninterested in the professors’ growing frustration. "We have enough problems without Sun adding dramatic details."

"I did not add anything dramatic!"

"You described the ground falling apart."

"Because it was!"

"And you called the fight unpleasant."

"It was unpleasant!"

Kong shrugged. "Then I suppose you were accurate."

Arthur coughed to hide his amusement before turning back to the professors.

"The situation deteriorated faster than we expected. Once the corruption reached the World Tree’s heart, withdrawing everyone would have left the Mirrors unstable. The regional teams were already holding the connections, and we had a chance to separate the corrupted network from the Tree without destroying the heart itself. We took that chance."

Roland’s frustration remained, but he listened.

"The five connections had to be restored together," Arthur continued. "If we’d destroyed the network outright, we might have damaged the very system keeping the Secret Realm alive. We needed the professors’ research, the regional teams holding their positions, and everyone inside the chamber to make it work."

Athena approached with a notebook tucked beneath her arm. "His explanation is accurate. The operation depended on several simultaneous actions. Arthur and the others couldn’t have succeeded without the teams maintaining the Mirrors, and the teams couldn’t have stabilized the network while the corruption remained connected to the heart."

Scolding folded his arms. "I understand the necessity of the operation. That does not mean I approve of the circumstances."

"Nor do I," Roland added, his voice softening slightly. "I’m relieved you survived. All of you. But next time, I expect communication before the situation becomes this dangerous."

Arthur nodded. "That’s fair."

Vedas glanced at him. "You should remember that response. It would be unfortunate if the professors had to repeat this conversation during our next expedition."

"Why does everyone assume there will be a next expedition?"

"Because you are smiling."

Arthur immediately straightened his expression.

Vedas looked unimpressed. "That was not convincing."

Leon, who had remained quiet while listening, finally stepped forward. His attention was fixed on the distant World Tree, where golden mana flowed through the branches without the irregular pulses that had plagued the network.

"I’d like to see the Mirrors," he said. "The reports described their synchronization, but I didn’t expect the restoration to be this complete."

"Neither did I," Metapholes admitted. He adjusted his glasses while studying the enormous tree. "The five streams are circulating independently, yet their resonance remains coordinated. Whatever mechanism governs the network is far more sophisticated than our existing models suggest."

Athena gestured toward the research station. "Come with me. We’ve recorded the initial readings and identified several inscriptions that may explain how the connections regulate one another."

Metapholes immediately followed her. "Excellent. Have you documented the changes in the central chamber as well?"

"Every accessible section."

"And the artificial core?"

"We preserved the remaining fragments."

"Wonderful."

He stopped, reconsidering his choice of words.

"Well, wonderful from a research perspective. Less wonderful for everyone who had to fight it."

"That’s one way to describe it," Leon replied.

As they approached the nearest Mirror, Leon noticed the faint golden lines moving across its surface.

"How did you separate the corruption without damaging the heart?" he asked Arthur. "If the core was connected directly to the World Tree, severing it should have disrupted the surrounding circulation."

"It nearly did," Arthur answered. "The key was separating the artificial core from the natural connections before destroying it. The World Tree could then recover its own circulation instead of fighting against something that was forcing its energy in the wrong direction."

Metapholes looked fascinated. "So the problem wasn’t simply that the core contained corrupted energy. It was that the core had imposed itself upon the network’s natural function."

"Exactly."

"Then we need to document that distinction carefully. Someone examining the remains centuries from now must understand that removing an artificial control mechanism is not the same as destroying the system it controls."

Luna, who had joined them with a bundle of translated records, nodded.

"My grandfather’s notes suggest something similar. He believed the Mirrors were designed to maintain balance rather than concentrate all their power in one place. We still don’t know everything about their original creators, but at least we can begin correcting the gaps in our understanding."

Roland looked at her records, then at the restored Mirror.

"Your grandfather’s research may prove more valuable than we originally realized."

Luna smiled faintly. "I hope so, Professor."

The inspection continued for another hour. Roland and Scolding checked the expedition’s condition, while Leon and Metapholes questioned Athena about the restored mechanisms. Nothing suggested that the corruption was returning, but the professors agreed that the Mirrors needed continued observation.

Before leaving, Roland organized a temporary monitoring arrangement with the regional teams. The researchers would exchange readings and report any unusual fluctuations, while the remaining records and core fragments would be secured for further study.

Ronin’s situation also received attention. He remained unconscious under medical supervision, and guards would accompany him when he was transferred for further examination. His loss of connection to the World Tree had not erased the damage he caused, and the professors made it clear that his actions would require a proper investigation.

Only after these arrangements were settled did the expedition finally turn its attention toward packing.

Mithra was the first to announce that she was ready.

"I’ve checked my equipment twice, packed everything I need, and decided that our next destination should have comfortable beds."

Sun looked up from his provisions. "I would like to add a dining hall with an excellent reputation."

Kong tightened the straps on his own food container. "Forget the reputation. I want enough food for the journey."

"You always want enough food for the journey," Athy remarked, closing the book she had been reading.

"And I have never regretted it."

Melo leaned against a root, watching him pack with a smile. "At this rate, Kong, you’ll need another bag just for the food you intend to eat before we arrive."

"That’s why I’m bringing two."

Mithra laughed. "At least he’s prepared. Sun will probably spend the entire journey complaining that the provisions aren’t good enough."

Sun looked offended. "I have never complained without a valid reason."

"You complained yesterday because your tea was too warm."

"It was supposed to cool before I drank it!"

"And you drank it anyway," Melo pointed out.

"Because I was thirsty!"

Vedas shook his head. "I see that the dangers of the Everglades Secret Realm have failed to improve any of you."

"That’s because we were already excellent," Sun declared.

"An inspiring conclusion," Athy replied dryly.

Arthur watched them bicker while checking the straps on his own pack. Star bounced from his head onto his shoulder, briefly stretched itself toward a nearby bag, then returned when Arthur offered it a small portion of food.

"You’ve become rather demanding," Arthur told it.

Star wiggled happily.

"Don’t encourage it," Vedas warned. "We already have enough people who believe they deserve special treatment."

Arthur looked at Sun.

Sun looked back. "Why are you staring at me?"

"No reason."

"That sounded suspiciously like a reason."

Their conversation continued as the group prepared for departure, but Arthur eventually noticed that Luna had grown unusually quiet.

She was helping Athena organize the last of the records, checking each bundle before placing it inside a protective case. Her movements were careful and precise, yet her attention kept drifting toward the World Tree.

When Athena asked whether she had finished sorting the inscriptions, Luna took a moment too long to respond.

"Almost," she said, lowering her gaze. "I just want to make sure nothing gets left behind."

"Take your time," Athena replied. "We’ve already preserved the essential records. We don’t need to rush this part."

Luna nodded and returned to work, but her eyes wandered toward the golden branches again.

Arthur noticed it, though he didn’t interrupt her. He remembered how she had spoken about her grandfather the previous evening, and he suspected that leaving the Secret Realm meant more to her than simply moving on to another destination.

For the others, the Everglades had been a dangerous expedition that had ended in victory. For Luna, it had been the place where years of research had finally come together. She had uncovered the purpose behind the Mirrors, witnessed the World Tree’s recovery, and found answers her grandfather had spent much of his life pursuing.

Now they were preparing to leave it behind.

A small voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Luna?"

Eden stood a short distance away, her wings glowing softly. Although she had recovered enough to walk around without assistance, the exhaustion from Future Manifestation had not entirely disappeared. She still moved more slowly than usual, and Arthur had reminded her twice that she wasn’t allowed to overexert herself.

Eden glanced at the packed supplies, then followed Luna’s gaze toward the World Tree.

Everyone else was busy preparing for the journey.

Luna was still watching the golden branches.

Eden approached her, concern appearing in her expression.

"You’re not looking forward to leaving, are you?" she asked gently. "Is something wrong?"

Luna’s hands stopped moving over the protective case.

For a moment, she didn’t answer.

Then she looked toward the World Tree once more, her expression caught between happiness for what they had accomplished and a sadness she hadn’t expected to feel.

"I..." Luna began, before her voice faltered.

Eden waited patiently.

And for the first time that morning, Luna seemed unable to find the right words.