God's Tree-Chapter 109: The Road to Nowhere

The night was silent.

The embers of their fire had cooled, leaving only faint trails of smoke curling toward the sky. The air was thick with the lingering scent of roasted war beast meat and the sharp tang of emberleaf.

Argolaith sat at the edge of the clearing, resting against the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. His muscles still ached from training, but his mind was far from sleep.

Because something was calling him.

At first, it was subtle—like a whisper at the edge of his mind.

Then, it grew stronger.

Not a voice, not words—just a pull.

The first tree had called to him like a heartbeat—steady, familiar. Close.

This?

This was different.

It wasn't here.

It wasn't even near.

The pull came from far beyond the forest, beyond the mountains, beyond even the ruins he and Kaelred had explored before.

It was distant. Vast.

And it was waiting.

Argolaith clenched his fists, closing his eyes.

The feeling wasn't painful, but it was relentless.

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It was calling him forward—demanding that he move.

He exhaled through his nose. "So that's how it is."

The first tree had been within reach. The second?

This was going to take time.

Kaelred's voice broke the silence.

"You feel it, don't you?"

Argolaith didn't open his eyes. "Yeah."

Kaelred sighed, shifting closer. "It's further than the first one, isn't it?"

Argolaith nodded.

Malakar, who had been sitting cross-legged nearby, tilted his head. "How far?"

Argolaith opened his eyes and stared into the darkened treeline.

"Far enough that it won't be a simple journey."

Kaelred groaned. "Why can't these things ever be easy?"

Argolaith smirked. "Wouldn't be worth it if they were."

Kaelred muttered something under his breath but didn't argue.

Malakar, however, was watching Argolaith carefully.

"You are changing."

Argolaith's smirk faded slightly. "What do you mean?"

Malakar's violet eyes gleamed. "The first tree made you stronger. This one will test something else."

Argolaith exhaled. He already knew that. He just didn't know what the second tree would demand of him.

Kaelred sat back, crossing his arms. "So. Any idea what kind of hell we're walking into this time?"

Argolaith shook his head. "Not yet."

The first tree had spoken to him. Had tested him. Had forced him to understand himself before offering its lifeblood.

But this one?

This one was silent.

It didn't whisper, didn't warn, didn't explain.

It only called.

Argolaith stood, rolling his shoulders. The distant pull of the second tree pulsed in his chest—an ever-present weight.

He turned to Kaelred and Malakar. "We move at first light."

Kaelred stretched, groaning. "Of course we do."

Malakar merely nodded.

Argolaith glanced once more toward the dark horizon.

The second tree was waiting.

And he would find it.

The night had settled into silence, the fire reduced to smoldering embers. A faint wind stirred through the clearing, carrying the scent of damp earth and the lingering spice of their feast.

Argolaith stood at the edge of the camp, staring into the vast darkness beyond. The second tree's pull remained constant—a relentless tug in his chest, demanding he move forward.

And now, he finally had an idea of just how far that would be.

Kaelred sat nearby, stretching his arms. "Alright, let's hear it. How far are we talking?"

Argolaith exhaled. "Far."

Kaelred gave him a flat look. "You're going to have to be more specific than that."

Argolaith turned, his blue eyes gleaming in the dim firelight. "I think it's beyond the Forsaken Forest."

Silence.

Malakar, who had been sharpening his blade, paused mid-stroke. His violet gaze flickered toward Argolaith, unreadable as ever.

Kaelred blinked. Then he let out a short laugh.

"Okay. Hold on. Beyond the Forsaken Forest?" He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "Tell me you're joking."

Argolaith remained silent.

Kaelred groaned. "Damn it."

Malakar set his sword down, studying Argolaith carefully. "Do you know how far that is?"

Argolaith clenched his jaw. He did.

He remembered.

Back in the city of Gren, Karthos had told them just how vast the lands they had traveled truly were. At that time, they had been nearly a million miles away from the Forsaken Forest.

And now?

Now they would have to cross it entirely.

Kaelred leaned back, rubbing his temples. "Let's summarize, shall we? We're in the middle of gods-know-where, nowhere near civilization, with a second tree that's calling you from across the damn world."

Argolaith shrugged. "Pretty much."

Kaelred let out another pained groan. "Why can't your magic tree be closer?"

Malakar, despite himself, smirked. "Because power is not meant to be easy."

Kaelred threw up his hands. "Of course you would say that."

Argolaith tightened the straps of his gear, securing his weapons. The reality of the journey ahead was difficult to grasp.

They had been through grueling trials, fought creatures beyond reason, and yet—

This would be the longest journey yet.

Kaelred stood, rolling his shoulders. "So, what's the plan? We just start walking?"

Argolaith exhaled. "First, we gather supplies. We'll need enough to last through the next stretch of wilderness. After that?"

He turned his gaze toward the horizon.

"We move. No distractions."

Malakar sheathed his blade, nodding once. "A long road is only daunting if you hesitate."

Kaelred sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with before I change my mind."

Argolaith smirked. "You wouldn't last a day without me."

Kaelred rolled his eyes. "I'm regretting this already."

They moved efficiently, their bodies trained to break camp in minutes.

Malakar scouted the immediate area, ensuring no unwanted watchers lurked in the trees. Kaelred packed their supplies, muttering under his breath about how ridiculous this whole journey was.

Argolaith stood over the last remnants of the fire, watching the embers die.

The Forsaken Forest was unimaginably far. The dangers ahead were unknown.

But the tree was calling him.

And he would answer.

With one last glance at the fading fire, Argolaith turned—

And they began their journey.

The first few steps of a long journey always felt the heaviest.

Argolaith led the way, his boots pressing into the damp earth as they ventured into the unknown. The night was thick with the scent of moss and distant rain, the remnants of their campfire now just a fading memory.

Each step felt measured. Purposeful.

And yet, the sheer distance ahead of them loomed like a shadow in the back of Argolaith's mind.

They had traveled far before—through ruined cities, treacherous peaks, and the depths of battle itself.

But this?

This was different.

This was a journey beyond the map.

The first day was quiet.

Too quiet.

They kept a steady pace, not too fast, not too slow—just enough to cover ground without exhausting themselves. The terrain was rough but manageable, a stretch of rolling hills and thick woodlands that spread out in all directions.

Argolaith's senses remained sharp. The presence of beasts, bandits, or worse was always a concern in untamed lands.

Kaelred sighed as he walked beside him. "This feels… weird."

Argolaith glanced at him. "What does?"

Kaelred ran a hand through his hair. "Usually when we travel, something tries to kill us within the first few hours."

Malakar smirked. "There is still time."

Kaelred groaned. "Of course that's your answer."

Argolaith let the conversation drift into the background. His mind remained fixed on the pull of the second tree. It was still far—so far that he could barely feel it.

And that worried him.

If it was this far, what lay between them and their destination?