"You are different."
Kaelred didn't stop walking. "I feel different."
The Tree of Faith had not vanished, but its voice no longer felt heavy in his mind. It was… lighter. Distant, but still present.
"The first tree has marked you," the voice continued. "The path is set. You will not walk it alone."
Kaelred frowned, glancing at the white leaves rustling in the distance. "Then why do I feel like I am?"
The mist shifted, curling like smoke.
"Because faith is often unseen."
Kaelred sighed. He should have expected that answer.
But still—
He knew what the tree meant.
This journey wasn't just about taking the lifeblood of the trees. It was about believing he could handle what came next.
Even when he didn't know what that would be.
The path twisted and narrowed again, but Kaelred kept moving. His muscles ached, his legs burned, but he refused to slow.
Then—
A familiar sound.
A boot scuffing against dirt.
