As they neared the colossal tree, the dense wall of forest finally gave way to open ground. The thick roots and towering trees thinned out, revealing a structure—ancient, crumbling, yet still standing proud against the weight of centuries.
It was massive.
The building looked as though it had once been made to house giants—maybe not just one, but dozens. Parts of it were shattered, overtaken by vines and time. Some halls had collapsed, others lay in ruin. But enough of it remained to see the grandeur it once held. And at its center, wrapped in its very bones, stood the glowing tree—the heart of this place.
The Wolf staggered toward the structure, its heavy paws dragging now, its body visibly weakening with each step. Lucas could hear its labored breathing—deep, ragged gasps that echoed in the clearing like a broken bellows. For the first time since this surreal journey began, he actually felt a pang of sympathy for the creature.
The building's front was guarded by a massive stone doorway, long since left open. Its surface was carved with symbols—intricate lines and sweeping curves that looked more like an ancient language than decoration. Lucas narrowed his eyes.
Is it… taking me inside?
Why? What's in there?
Is this where it ends?
The thought sent a ripple of fear through him, tightening around his chest like a cold chain. But he didn't let it stay long. He grit his teeth and pushed the fear down.
"Like hell it is," he muttered under his breath, voice low but steady.
Bracing himself, Lucas forced his aching body upright. The long ride had stolen all sense of balance—his knees wobbled, and a wave of dizziness hit him. But he pushed forward anyway. One step at a time.
His eyes locked on the weapon buried in the Wolf's side. Without hesitating, he reached for the battle-axe, fingers wrapping around the handle slick with blood and sweat. He pulled.
The axe came free with a sickening shlick, followed by a fresh surge of blood that poured down the Wolf's side like spilled wine. The beast let out a low grunt of pain, its head twisting slightly to glance back. But it didn't retaliate.
Lucas didn't have time to wonder why. As soon as the axe came loose, the sudden shift in weight sent him toppling backward. His body dropped, the world blurring in his vision, and his heart lurched—he didn't know how far the fall was, but from this height, even landing on his feet could shatter a leg.
Then everything jerked to a stop.
He wasn't falling. He was… hanging?
Lucas blinked and looked up.
The Wolf had clenched the axe in its massive jaws—stopping his fall at the very last moment. Lucas dangled by both hands from the weapon, legs swinging, breath caught in his throat.
"You stubborn, oversized mutt!" he shouted, kicking helplessly. "Let go already!"
But the Wolf didn't budge. It held the axe—and him—firmly, then resumed its slow walk forward, dragging Lucas along like a dangling pendant.
The hallway they entered was wide, ancient, and eerily beautiful. The ceiling stretched high above, draped with vines that swayed softly in a breeze that had no source. The stone walls were covered in moss, cracked but decorated with faint carvings—stories too old to be understood, etched into the bones of the building.
Lucas glanced around, the axe still clutched tightly in his hands. His arms were starting to burn. He briefly thought of letting go… but one look at the jagged stone floor below changed his mind. His legs wouldn't survive the landing.
Eventually, the hallway opened up.
And Lucas forgot all about the pain.
It was like stepping into a dream.
The room ahead was a massive chamber—a circular sanctuary cradled by ancient stone pillars. The ceiling arched like a dome, long since overtaken by creeping vines and glowing fungi. Around the room, multiple doorways led into darkness, but all paths curved inward, circling one thing.
The Tree.
Now, up close, Lucas could see it fully. The same tree that had lit up the sky—an impossible being of life and color. Its branches spread wide like a guardian's arms, draped in soft light. Strange fruit hung from its limbs—apple-like, but glowing faintly, as if filled with starlight. The bark shimmered, almost translucent, caught somewhere between the real and the unreal—like it didn't fully belong to this world.
Beneath it, a field of lilies bloomed, swaying gently as if stirred by the heartbeat of the tree itself. The white petals glowed faintly in the light, creating the feeling of a holy place—untouched, sacred.
The Wolf moved forward through the lilies, slow and trembling.
When it reached the tree, it finally stopped.
Gently, it placed Lucas down beside it, then limped the last few steps on its own.
With a soft grunt, the beast collapsed at the tree's base. Its body heaved with shallow breaths, chest rising and falling in a rhythm that looked… final.
Lucas stared, silent.
The beast that had carried him through death and madness now lay broken and still, resting in the glow of something far older than either of them.
Lucas eyed the fallen beast warily. Its breathing had slowed, but it still clung to life, even if barely. He approached it with cautious steps, stopping just short of its massive head.
"Alright," he muttered, voice low. "You've dragged me all the way here, nearly bled to death doing it… Now what?"
The Wolf didn't respond. It didn't growl, didn't flinch—nothing.
Lucas let out a dry laugh. "Seriously, what am I doing? Talking to a wolf like it's gonna explain itself."
It was so absurd he almost chuckled. Almost.
Thump.
"Agh—what the hell?" Something soft smacked the top of his head. He winced and stumbled a step back, hand flying up to rub the spot.
When he looked down, there it was—one of the strange fruits hanging from the tree, now rolling gently on the ground like it had picked him on purpose.
Lucas knelt and picked it up.
It looked like an apple, but it definitely wasn't. The skin shimmered faintly, and when he held it up to the light, he could see straight through it—his fingers blurred behind a web of silvery veins that pulsed with faint energy. It was like looking into a fruit made of glass and thread.
He turned toward the Wolf, lifting the fruit slightly.
"You want me to eat this?" he asked, half-laughing, half-suspicious.
The Wolf didn't answer—but for the first time, its eyes shifted, slowly and with effort, landing on the fruit.
Lucas froze.
That tiny gesture meant more than it should have. Until now, the beast had been unmoving, teetering on the edge. But now… it was aware. Intentional.
He stepped closer.
The Wolf's breathing was uneven. Each exhale was a quiet battle, each inhale a reluctant return to life. Its eyes, once glowing with ferocity, were now dull and half-lidded.
Lucas knelt beside its head, careful to stay out of the reach of those enormous jaws—though something told him he was safe now. He stared into its fading eyes and whispered, "So… this is what you brought me here for?"
He glanced at the fruit again.
"I don't know what kind of mystical crap this is, but I'm not really the trusting type. And beasts don't exactly top my list of reliable life guides."
Even as he spoke, his fingers moved without hesitation. Gently, he held the Wolf's heavy maw open—just enough. Then, after a small pause, he tossed the fruit inside.
"Here," he said quietly. "You eat first. If you survive, maybe I'll think about trusting you. Sound fair?"
The fruit slipped into the Wolf's mouth and disappeared with a quiet gulp. Lucas blinked in surprise—the beast didn't flinch, didn't resist. It just accepted it.
Its chest rose. Then fell.
And for the first time since they arrived, the Wolf's breathing slowly began to steady.
Lucas stared for a moment, dumbfounded.
"So you really can understand me," he muttered. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"
He stood, dusting off his knees, and took one last look at the resting beast. Even half-dead, it looked like a nightmare given flesh—huge, scarred, and dangerous. Yet now, lying there in the warm light of the tree, it almost looked… peaceful.
Lucas let out a slow breath and walked over to where his blood-slicked axe had fallen. He picked it up, the metal still warm from the long journey.
Still fresh. Can't have been more than a few hours since the ambush.
His thoughts darkened.
'I've got no idea where I am… The squad's probably scattered or worse. Even if I could retrace my steps, I doubt I'd last long in this forest.'
He looked around the chamber, the strange architecture looming silently around him. Shadows crept in from the doorways, deep and ancient. Anything could be waiting in those halls.
Nope. Not exploring that.
Lucas sighed heavily and trudged back to the Wolf. It was still breathing, still asleep. He slumped down beside its massive body, letting the soft, warm fur cushion his aching limbs.
He clutched the axe close, holding it across his chest like a lifeline.
His eyes drifted downward, landing on the small satchel strapped to his side. He tugged it open, half out of habit—and blinked.
Inside were the usual vials of elixir, nestled in their wooden box. But something else was there too: strips of dried beef jerky, neatly wrapped, and a pouch of water stitched from animal hide.
His stomach growled on cue.
"Hah… You've gotta be kidding me," he murmured, shaking his head. "Of all the things to save me, it's this old bag."
He grabbed a strip and bit into it. It was tough, dry, and not even remotely appealing—but to his starved body, it might as well have been a royal feast.
Halfway through chewing, he choked slightly. Cough! A piece lodged in his throat.
He scrambled to grab the pouch, unscrewed the cap, and took a deep swig of water. Relief washed over him as the food finally went down. He let out a grunt and leaned back again.
"Alright… not dying of hunger today. That's one win."
He reached back into the satchel and pulled out the wooden box. Opening it, he found five bottles of elixir—two already empty, three still sealed. Without much thought, he took one and drank it in one go. The warmth spread instantly through his body, dulling the aches in his muscles.
"Still tastes like horse piss," he muttered, wiping his mouth. "But I'm not complaining."
After carefully packing everything away, he rested his head against the Wolf's side again, listening to its slow, steady breathing.
His eyes grew heavy.
'Let's just hope I wake up before this guy does,' he thought, a wry smile forming on his lips.
And with that, Lucas closed his eyes… and drifted into sleep.