Suddenly, the atmosphere fractured. A girl emerged with glowing dark skin, looking like a rare piece of polished black diamond. Her long, curly hair was meticulously tied atop her head, and in her clear ruby eyes, a joyful red light danced with vitality. Her steps were confident, her athletic, well-proportioned physique adding a sense of perfection to her presence.
With a bold, defiant voice, she asked:
"Am I interrupting something?"
Rash turned to her with a faint smile. "Tabitha... what's the matter? You know you're always welcome here." He then gestured toward Elena. "Elena, this is Tabitha, one of the strongest warriors in Azaveria. Tabitha, meet Elena... the King's daughter."
Tabitha smiled and performed a peculiar gesture toward Elena: she placed one hand in the center of her other fist, then traced a downward-curving semicircle in the air. A faint, serene light emanated from the movement.
"Chaya Thu, Elena," she said.
Elena stood stunned for a moment before responding with a simple nod, as she had been accustomed to all her life. "Hello."
Tabitha's tone shifted to one of admiration. "Elena, you are much stronger than you look. That bold speech this morning... it was one of the most powerful things I've ever heard."
Elena replied shyly, her cheeks flushing crimson. "Thank you... truly."
Tabitha turned to Rash, her expression turning serious. "One of the fruits of the Ancient Sylvarius Tree has turned a glowing red. It seems the 'Light' energy orb about to emerge this time... will be extraordinary. Massive crowds have already gathered; everyone wants a piece of it. Do you want to join the team?"
Rash's face lit up with excitement. "Of course! Is the team even complete without me?" He turned to Elena. "Remember our talk about the competitions to obtain 'Light' energy? What I didn't tell you is that the roots of the Ancient Sylvarius Tree extend deep into Azaveria, reaching the ruins of the First Generator. It's the only thing capable of reaching it. Would you like to participate?"
But Tabitha shot Rash a stern look. "Do you realize how dangerous these trials are? If anything happens to her... King Rafs will be devastated." She added in a low voice, "The Light orb travels through intertwined dimensions surrounding the Sylvarius. Those dimensions have secret folds where villains can slip through. If they discover her identity... no one knows what might happen."
Elena interjected firmly, "I appreciate your concern, but you don't know me yet. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I want to participate, and this is my decision."
Tabitha took a step toward her, her voice echoing with authority. "Then... I want you to say it. You absolve us of any penalty if harm should befall you."
Elena lifted her head with unwavering confidence. "I have never held anyone responsible for the consequences of my decisions... and I never will."
"Tabitha, it's her choice," Rash said firmly. "Let's respect that."
Tabitha stepped back slightly, locking eyes with Elena. "As you wish," she finally said.
The three of them took off together. The energy orbs on their backs ignited like meteors falling from the sky, propelling them at incomparable speeds. The wind tugged at their tunics, revealing unique marks that told stories of distinct personalities.
Tabitha turned toward Rash, sending him pulses of light messages that only he could decode. She replayed a private memory between them, and while he was immersed in its details, she said aloud:
"I've never seen you like this before." Then, with a mischievous lilt: "What's the secret?"
Elena looked between them, puzzled. "What secret are you talking about?"
Rash replied to Tabitha using the same light pulses: Not now. This isn't the time for explanations.
Silence followed. Elena felt they were evading her question but decided not to press further. Moments later, Rash sent her a new message via vibrational light pulses:
These are the coordinates for the Sylvarius Tree dimensions.
Elena suddenly halted mid-flight, her voice rising in alarm. "Rash! I don't believe this... I just heard your voice inside me, reciting these coordinates!"
Rash and Tabitha exchanged a look before bursting into muffled laughter.
"I'm sorry," Rash said with a grin. "I thought you already knew. I should have warned you before doing that."
Elena's face turned red with embarrassment at her overreaction. "It's alright... it just reminds me exactly of how I felt inside the womb of 'Azaveria'. There was a being speaking to me... it called itself the Book of Truth."
Rash explained, "Everyone in Azaveria can use this form of communication. They are light pulses sent through specific vibrations. No one can hear or see them except the recipient. It's not a special gift; it's something we are all born with."
Elena nodded. "I see now. When I left the womb of Azaveria, the 'Book of Truth' uploaded countless coordinates into my mind... coordinates belonging to multiple universes. I... I can't fully explain it."
"What it gave you were the coordinates for inter-dimensional travel," Rash replied. "But what I sent you just now is the frequency for the Sylvarius Tree dimension."
Tabitha added, "It doesn't occupy a full dimension; it's more of a spherical sub-space surrounding the tree, made of smaller, intertwined dimensions. When the Light orb appears, it selects only the dimensions necessary for its growth. The hunt takes place across at least two layers. Whoever reaches the orb when it fully matures, claims it."
Tabitha then turned to Elena with grave seriousness. "We might encounter the 'Asumia'—dark creatures that lurk in the weak folds of the Sylvarius dimensions. They may try to harm you."
Elena's expression remained steady and resolute. "I know them well... those shadow beings with thick smoke billowing from their black marks. Their faces pulse with malice and hatred. They hunted me on my last day on Earth when I was with 'Ryo'. I didn't fully realize my identity then, but they sensed it. They watched me, stalked me. Fortunately, I left just in time... they were already at my doorstep."
Tabitha and Rash exchanged a wary look—a glance that spoke volumes without a single word.
Suddenly, Rash announced: "It's time to phase. You have the frequency coordinates, Elena. Be precise."
"Yes," Elena answered firmly. "I've set them exactly."
In the blink of an eye, the three vanished into the void... disappearing as if they had never existed.
They reappeared within the dimensional circle of the Ancient Sylvarius Tree. Elena opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by glowing shadows and a throng of the beings she had seen that morning. No one could hide the burning curiosity in their eyes; they were filled with questions they had no answers for.
The crowd began to greet one another using those unique Azaverian gestures, just as Tabitha had done with Elena earlier.
And in that moment, two figures began to approach...