"But…" Juan hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck and glancing toward Andrie's body. "It's not guaranteed. And it's dangerous. The forest doesn't let just anyone reach the flower. And even if we do, there's no telling if it can heal something like… this." He swallowed hard, unable to say the words outright. "Still, it's better than… you know, using dark magic."
Mathea's heart clenched at the mention of dark magic. She had considered it moments ago, the temptation of forbidden spells whispering in her mind. But Juan's words were like a beacon in the darkness, offering another path, one that didn't require her to risk her soul—or Andrie's.
"You really think it could work?" she whispered, her voice shaky as she looked at Juan.
He nodded slowly. "It's worth a try. Andrie wouldn't want you to use dark magic, Mathea. I can see it in your eyes—you've been thinking about it. But this flower… it's pure magic. It's natural, created by the gods themselves, not corrupted by greed or hatred."
Mathea glanced down at Andrie's body, her fingers tightening around the locket he had given her years ago. The memories of him teaching her, saving her, believing in her—every one of them pushed her toward hope.
"Where is it?" she asked, her voice steadier now.
Juan's shoulders straightened, his resolve clear. "It's deep in the forest. The path isn't easy, and the guardians of the flower… they won't let us take it without a fight. But I'll guide us there. I'll do whatever it takes to help Andrie."
Mathea's eyes softened as she looked at him. Juan wasn't just offering hope—he was offering to risk himself for someone he barely knew. It reminded her of Andrie's selflessness, his willingness to protect her even when she didn't realize she needed it.
"All right," she said finally, standing up and brushing the dirt from her knees. "We'll go after the Flower of Pan. But we need to move quickly. Every moment we waste, Andrie's spirit drifts further away."
Juan nodded, a small spark of determination lighting in his eyes. He glanced at the others, who were still gathering their thoughts, before adding, "We'll need everyone's help to face what's waiting for us in that forest. Especially Athena and her pet. The flower isn't unguarded."
Mathea nodded, her gaze hardening. "Then let's prepare. If there's a chance to bring him back, we have to take it. For Andrie."
As she spoke, she swore she felt the faintest warmth emanating from her locket, as though Andrie himself was urging her forward.
Juan hesitated, shifting uncomfortably as he glanced at the others. His voice came out quieter this time, almost as if he didn't want to say it. "The problem is… um… the flower—it's missing. Someone stole it."
The camp fell into stunned silence, the weight of Juan's words settling over them like a shroud. Mathea's stomach twisted, her hope faltering. "Stolen? Are you sure?"
Juan nodded grimly. "Yes. It was taken months ago, right from its sacred ground. My village elders said someone trespassed into the forest and broke the ancient wards protecting it. Whoever it was left no trace. They didn't just take the flower; they destroyed the place where it grew. I didn't want to bring it up because… well… it seemed impossible to fix. But now…" He trailed off, his gaze falling on Andrie's lifeless body.
Jea spoke up, her tone sharp but focused. "Then we find whoever took it. If someone wanted the Flower of Pan, it wasn't for something small. They're bound to leave signs behind. We can track them."
Mathea frowned, her emotions swirling between despair and determination. "But we don't know where to start looking. And Andrie…" She glanced at his body, lying still under the shadow of the trees.
Jea stepped closer, her voice softening. "We don't have to abandon him, Mathea. There's a way to preserve his body until we figure this out."
Mathea blinked. "What do you mean?"
Jea crouched down and pulled a small pouch of dried herbs from her satchel, spreading them out on the ground. "There's a magical plant Elder Igo told me about—a rare one that can preserve the dead. It'll keep the body from decomposing until the full moon. It won't bring him back, but it'll give us time to find the flower—or whoever has it."
Mathea's heart squeezed with gratitude as she looked at Jea. "Do you have it with you?"
Jea shook her head. "No, but I know where to find it. Elder Igo knew I'd need this information someday. The plant grows in shaded groves near the riverbed. It won't be hard to get if we leave now."
Athena, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "I don't like the idea of splitting up. This forest isn't exactly safe. But we don't have a choice, do we?"
Mathea shook her head firmly. "No. We'll stay together. The plant is too important, and we need everyone if something goes wrong."
Juan nodded. "Agreed. And once we've preserved Andrie's body, we can focus on tracking down the thief."
The group exchanged solemn looks, each of them silently committing to the plan. They worked quickly, wrapping Andrie's body carefully while Juan and Jea prepared for the journey.
As they stood ready to leave, Mathea knelt beside her cousin one last time. Her fingers brushed against the locket he'd given her so long ago, and she whispered, "We'll bring you back, Andrie. I swear it."
With the faintest glimmer of hope in their hearts, the group set out, determined to find the magical plant—and the truth about the Flower of Pan.