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Chapter 35 - The Silent Grove

Leaving the shimmering city behind, Yuki, Sae, and Taro traveled into a forest shrouded in mist, the air dense with an eerie quiet that settled around them like a blanket. Ancient trees rose around them, their bark pale and smooth, their branches reaching out in twisted arcs as if frozen mid-motion. A strange glow emanated from the ground, illuminating their path in a soft silver light, but no animals or insects disturbed the silence.

"Is it just me, or is this forest… too quiet?" Sae asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's unsettling," Taro replied, gripping the hilt of his sword. "I've heard rumors of places like this—a place where the air feels too thick and sound fades before it even leaves your mouth. They call it the Silent Grove."

Yuki felt the weight of the place press down on him, as if it was filled with whispers he couldn't quite hear. Each step felt careful, deliberate, as though the ground beneath them might disappear if they moved too quickly. Even his breath seemed muffled, drawn away by some invisible force.

A movement caught his eye. He stopped, gesturing for the others to follow suit, and pointed. Just ahead, a figure was walking among the trees. It moved with an ethereal grace, draped in flowing, shadow-like robes, blending seamlessly with the mist. The figure didn't appear threatening, but it radiated an ancient aura, as if it were as old as the trees themselves.

Sae took a step back. "What… is that?"

Yuki's curiosity outweighed his fear. "Let's follow. I don't think it means us harm."

They trailed the figure, careful to keep their distance. As they moved deeper into the grove, Yuki noticed strange, glowing symbols etched into the tree trunks. They pulsed faintly, creating an almost rhythmic heartbeat within the forest. Yuki traced his fingers over one of the symbols, feeling an inexplicable warmth beneath the cold bark.

"This forest is alive," he murmured. "Or… aware."

The figure ahead finally came to a halt, turning to face them. Its face was obscured by shadows, but its voice filled their minds like a gentle breeze, bypassing sound entirely.

"Travelers," it spoke, its tone both inviting and grave. "You tread upon sacred ground, a place where memories of the past linger in eternal slumber. The Silent Grove holds more than trees and earth; it holds the echoes of all who have passed through."

Yuki met the figure's unseen gaze, feeling an unspoken connection. "Why are we here? What does this grove want from us?"

The figure extended an arm, gesturing to the grove around them. "You carry burdens, memories you have claimed as your own. This place offers a sanctuary for reflection, a moment to hear the voices within, unclouded by the noise of the outside world."

Taro raised an eyebrow. "So… it's like another city of reflections?"

"Not exactly," the figure replied. "The City of Reflections reveals the facets of yourself, but the Silent Grove offers something else: an invitation to let go."

The words resonated with Yuki. There was a weight he carried—not just the memories he'd taken, but the responsibilities and expectations he placed upon himself. Here, in this quiet grove, he felt those weights rise to the surface.

The figure extended its hand toward Yuki. "Would you like to release one of those burdens? To free a memory or a fear, allowing it to join the grove?"

Yuki hesitated. He glanced at Sae and Taro, who nodded, silently supporting him. He thought of the memory he had taken from Calanthar—the mother's courage, her love, her fierce resolve to protect her children. It was a memory that had strengthened him, yet it was not truly his own.

With a deep breath, he placed a hand over his heart, visualizing the memory. He felt its warmth and weight, and with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow, he placed his hand in the figure's outstretched palm, willing the memory to release.

The moment he let go, a soft glow enveloped his hand, drifting into the mist. It hovered for a moment before settling among the trees, fading into the grove. He felt lighter, as if he'd left a piece of himself behind, yet it wasn't a loss—it was an offering.

The figure bowed slightly. "The memories we carry shape us, but sometimes, they must also be allowed to rest. You are free to take with you only what serves you, and to leave the rest in peace."

Yuki looked at Sae and Taro, and each seemed to understand. Sae closed her eyes, releasing a quiet memory of a sorrow that had lingered in her heart. Taro, though reluctant, placed a hand on a tree, as if allowing a burden to seep into the bark.

As each of them offered something to the grove, a gentle hum filled the air, a sound as soft as the wind but layered with countless voices, each a whisper from those who had come before. It was not silence that filled the grove, but a harmony of all who had ever set foot upon its ground.

With a final nod, the figure retreated into the mist, disappearing among the shadows.

The silence returned, but it was no longer eerie. It was peaceful, grounding. As they left the Silent Grove, Yuki felt as if the weight he had carried had transformed, allowing him to walk forward with renewed clarity.

When they emerged from the forest, Yuki turned back for a last glance. The trees stood silent, their pale trunks and glowing symbols a quiet reminder of what they had left behind—and of what still lay ahead.