As they neared the upper reaches of the river, Borne and his two companions noticed the environment changing.
The ground was now covered with an increasing number of magic beast footprints, and the trees became denser, blocking out most of the sunlight.
The forest grew darker, and the air took on a noticeable chill, as though the cold from the depths of the Celestoria Mountain Range was creeping toward them.
Borne shivered slightly and frowned, glancing around the thick forest.
"The temperature's dropping significantly.
I think we may have unknowingly entered the Celestoria Mountain Range."
Dilon stopped in his tracks and nodded slightly.
"There are too many footprints here.
It means this area is a hotspot for magic beasts. If we go any further, we might encounter them."
Victor rubbed his arms, a trace of worry in his eyes.
The river flowed steadily, a silver ribbon leading deep into the heart of the mountain range.
Standing by the riverbank, the three of them stared at the seemingly endless stream of water, falling silent as they realized how dangerous it would be to proceed.
Breaking the silence, Borne frowned and spoke up.
"This river runs through almost the entire mountain range.
We've gone deep enough.
There's no need to risk going any further.
The magic beasts are already active in this area, and going deeper would be too dangerous."
Dilon nodded, his eyes still scanning the area warily.
"I agree.
Going any further would increase the risk.
Our mission is reconnaissance, not a battle.
We've already seen enough signs of magic beasts here, and venturing deeper could lead to more danger."
Victor chimed in.
"Yeah, this place is already making my heart race.
If we go any further, we might get surrounded by a pack of magic beasts.
Let's just survey the area, confirm it's safe, and head back."
The three quickly came to an agreement not to venture deeper into the mountain range.
They prepared to turn back, but suddenly, Borne spoke up.
"There might be something else around here."
His tone was firm, though it left his two companions puzzled.
His words seemed abrupt and out of place.
Before they could react, Borne had already started running ahead.
"Where are you going?"
Dilon called after him, confusion in his voice.
Without looking back, Borne replied, "There's definitely something here."
His voice faded with the wind as his figure disappeared into the distance.
Victor instinctively wanted to follow, but Dilon stopped him with an outstretched hand.
"He's got some personal business.
Let him go."
Victor frowned, clearly confused.
"Personal business? At a time like this?"
Dilon squinted, watching Borne's rapidly retreating form, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"I'm not sure what he's up to, but Borne isn't reckless.
Especially not in a place this dangerous."
Victor hesitated but eventually decided to trust Dilon's judgment.
Though uneasy about the sudden turn of events, he chose to believe in Borne.
"Alright, but we can't let him stay out there too long."
Victor's tone carried a hint of concern.
In Borne's mind, the familiar, childlike voice suddenly rang out.
"Why did you make me move forward?"
Borne, puzzled by the sudden command, asked the question, though he didn't slow his pace.
"Stop asking questions and just follow my lead," the voice responded, impatient and dismissive, as if explaining was beneath it.
Though the voice carried an air of arrogance that made Borne frown slightly, he didn't argue.
"Alright, fine, I'll listen to you."
Borne sighed, continuing to follow the direction the mysterious child's voice was pushing him toward.
As he moved forward, the forest grew denser, the cold more intense, and the ground steeper.
He could faintly hear the sound of rushing water not far ahead.
The faster he ran, the more curious he became. Was there really something important waiting for him?
"Don't stop! Keep going!"
The child's voice urged, growing more insistent.
A strong sense of curiosity and urgency gripped Borne.
He wanted to know what was waiting for him up ahead.
He sped up, the sound of water growing louder and closer.
The dense foliage blocked his path, forcing him to push through thick bushes and branches.
The voice in his head grew more excited, almost frantic.
"Hurry! You're almost there, don't stop!"
Without hesitation, Borne charged through the last of the undergrowth, bursting into an open area.
His steps faltered momentarily as he took in the sight before him.
He stood at the base of a massive waterfall, the roar of the water deafening as it cascaded down the rocky cliff.
Mist filled the air, soaking his face and clothes with icy droplets that sent shivers down his spine.
The air was colder here, every drop of water seemingly pulling the temperature lower.
The child's voice rang out in his mind once more.
"It's behind the waterfall! Go!"
Borne hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on the dark space behind the falling water.
A mix of nervousness and curiosity surged within him.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, inching closer to the waterfall.
The freezing water hit his body like knives, the cold biting into his skin.
He trembled uncontrollably as the water drenched him, but the child's voice grew more insistent.
"Move! Don't hesitate!"
Borne steeled his nerves and pushed through the water, letting it drench him completely.
As the water closed over his head, his vision blurred, and he was surrounded by the deafening sound of rushing water.
The water instantly obscured his vision as Borne was engulfed in the icy flow, but he quickly realized he had passed through the curtain of the waterfall.
Borne cautiously advanced.
The cave was shallow, and after just a few steps, he halted.
In the dim light filtering through from the waterfall outside, he could faintly make out a figure lying in the cave.
It was a woman.
Her clothes were torn and tattered, with many parts of her body exposed, covered in wounds and blood.
Blood still lingered at the corner of her mouth, and several dark red stains were visible on the ground—evidence that she had been lying there for days.
Borne immediately became alert.
Without needing the child's voice in his head to warn him, he carefully approached the woman.
He crouched down, inching closer while keeping a wary eye on her, trying to assess her condition.
Borne gently placed his index finger under her nose and felt the faintest breath.
Despite the severity of her injuries and the fact that she was still bleeding, she was alive—a fact that seemed anything but ordinary.
The wounds on her body were not typical.
The way they were torn apart suggested a power far beyond the usual.
Borne's first instinct was to back away from the woman.
His gut told him that this person was far from ordinary.
A normal individual would not have survived such grievous injuries, yet she clung to life.
Every signal in his mind screamed danger.
"She isn't normal," Borne thought, as he slowly began to retreat.
But just then, the familiar childlike voice in his head spoke again, this time with urgency.
"Don't leave! This woman is important!"
The conflicting messages from his mind and the reality before him left Borne torn.
"Why is she so important?" he asked in a low voice, remaining as cautious as ever.
The voice did not answer directly but spoke with firm conviction.
"You have to trust me. She's tied to your future."
Borne furrowed his brow, his mind swirling with confusion, but in the end, he chose to trust the childlike voice.
He knew that despite the arrogance of the child, it had never led him into danger.
And more importantly, this child had been entrusted to him by Father Raphael.
Borne trusted that the priest wouldn't steer him wrong.
"What do I need to do?" Borne asked quietly, staying on high alert.
The voice responded without hesitation, its tone resolute.
"You need to take out that tooth."