Morning sunlight bathed the cobblestone streets of the small town, carrying with it the fresh scent of damp earth. Jay and Vilk, having packed their belongings, stepped out of the inn, ready to continue their journey.
"The weather's nice today, perfect for traveling," Vilk said with a yawn. A small pack hung over his shoulder, and his expression was noticeably relaxed.
"It is. Days like this always seem to lift the mood," Jay replied with a smile, slinging the Scorching Heaven Halberd onto his back. His gaze lingered on the distant mountains. "Let's hope today stays peaceful."
Just as they were about to leave, a conversation among a group of villagers caught their attention.
"Silverleaf Town is in bad shape these days," an elderly man with graying hair sighed. "I heard it's been taken over by some group called the Palace of Kings. Those people are trouble."
"Yeah, ever since the influence of Spirit Domain City has waned, the surrounding towns have been anything but safe," another villager chimed in. "The Palace of Kings is apparently searching for some kind of treasure, turning Silverleaf Town upside down and even causing trouble here."
"What's going on with Spirit Domain City lately? Weren't there supposed to be plenty of powerful people guarding it? Now it feels like these rogue groups are running wild," a third villager grumbled.
Hearing this, Jay stopped in his tracks, a frown forming on his face. He glanced at Vilk and asked quietly, "The Palace of Kings? Have you heard of them?"
Vilk shook his head, his expression growing serious. "No, but it doesn't sound like a small-time group. If they've taken over an entire town, they must be formidable."
Jay turned and approached the villagers. His voice was calm but carried a hint of inquiry. "Excuse me, sir. What kind of group is this Palace of Kings? And how long has Silverleaf Town been under their control?"
The old man looked up at Jay, noting his dignified demeanor, and decided not to hold back. "The Palace of Kings is a rising power from the past few years. Most of their members are strong, and I've heard some have powerful guardian spirits. They've been in control of Silverleaf Town for almost a month now. The townsfolk have either been driven out or forced to obey them. Life there has been miserable."
Another villager added, "They're looking for something important, turning the entire town inside out. And Spirit Domain City—who knows what's going on there? They've completely ignored us lately. It's disheartening."
Jay's expression darkened as he processed the information. He turned to Vilk. "Silverleaf Town sounds like trouble, but whatever they're looking for—it's probably no ordinary item. And it seems even the undead and natives in the area are affected."
Vilk nodded, his eyes wary. "Do you think we should check it out? Silverleaf's situation might be more complicated than it seems."
"Yes," Jay said firmly, his gaze cold and resolute. "If it's something that shouldn't exist, we can't just stand by. And we still need a base for our faction. Silverleaf might be worth considering."
"Agreed. It's not far from here," Vilk said. "If we establish our base there, we could also protect nearby towns from harm."
The two adjusted their gear, said their goodbyes to the villagers, and set off toward Silverleaf Town. As they walked, Jay's thoughts lingered on the Palace of Kings' motives and the apparent inaction of Spirit Domain City.
"All of these recent events… they don't feel isolated," Jay murmured.
"There's likely a thread connecting them," Vilk replied, his tone heavy with suspicion. "We'll need to be cautious. The road ahead could be even more treacherous than before."
Their silhouettes gradually disappeared along the mountain path, moving forward toward the rising sun.
Jay and Vilk stepped into Silverleaf Town, immediately sensing its unique atmosphere, distinct from the outside world.
"The environment here is truly exceptional," Vilk remarked, glancing around at the lush greenery lining the streets and the charming, low wooden houses. "The spiritual energy is so abundant it almost makes me wonder if there's something special about this place."
Jay nodded, his gaze fixed toward the center of the town. He could feel a faint yet distinct spiritual energy emanating from there, like a quiet call.
"Let's head to the town center," Jay said calmly, his steps quickening slightly.
As they followed the path toward the center, the soothing aura grew stronger with every step. Before long, they arrived at the edge of a large pond.
"What is this…" Vilk muttered, momentarily stunned.
The pond's surface shimmered like a mirror, crystal clear, with faint glimmers of light that resembled scattered stars. At its center stood an enormous ancient tree.
The tree was towering and majestic, its lush green leaves tinged with a golden hue. Intricate runes etched into its trunk radiated a subtle spiritual energy. Most strikingly, anyone approaching the tree would feel a profound sense of calm and serenity, as though all their worries had been washed away.
Jay gazed at the tree, its immense spiritual energy filling the air. Taking a deep breath, he murmured, "This tree is no ordinary one."
Vilk stepped closer, equally mesmerized by its mystique. "Its spiritual energy is incredibly pure, but it doesn't seem like a typical barrier tree."
Jay's expression sharpened, his brow furrowed. "How could Spirit Domain City leave a place like this unprotected?"
The two exchanged a glance, both realizing that Silverleaf Town likely held secrets yet to be uncovered.
"Let's look around. We might find some clues," Jay suggested, and Vilk nodded in agreement.
As they were about to leave the pond, a young voice suddenly called out from behind them. "Are you here to protect the Silverleaf Tree too?"
Turning around, they saw a boy, no older than seven or eight, standing a short distance away. He held a string of wind chimes in his hand, his gaze innocent and curious.
"Silverleaf Tree?" Jay asked, his tone probing.
The boy nodded, stepping closer. "That's the Silverleaf Tree. It's the guardian spirit of our town. Lots of people used to come to worship it, but now bad people have come—they want to steal its power."
"Bad people?" Vilk crouched down, his voice gentle. "Where are these bad people now?"
The boy wrinkled his nose, looking a bit frightened. "They're in the big temple in the town. Nobody dares fight back because they said they'd destroy the Silverleaf Tree…"
Jay and Vilk exchanged a glance, their resolve hardening.
"Take us there," Jay said, his tone steady and firm. "If they're truly bad people, we won't stand by and do nothing."
The boy nodded, clutching his wind chime as he began to lead the way. Jay and Vilk followed closely behind, their expressions filled with both caution and determination.
After walking a short distance, Jay noticed a girl standing in the middle of the road, gazing absentmindedly at the sky. Her beauty was breathtaking, her demeanor elegant, and she exuded an air of mystery.
Jay and Vilk halted, observing the girl before them. Her graceful presence and the confident sharpness in her eyes clearly set her apart from ordinary people.
"A Spirit Summoner?" Jay raised an eyebrow, his gaze scanning her figure. "You don't seem like an ordinary one."
Sheila smiled faintly, her tone gentle yet composed. "I'm certainly not ordinary, but it seems neither are you. If you can sense the anomalies here and dare to oppose the Celestial King's faction, your abilities must be formidable."
Vilk smirked and teased, "Should we test each other out to see who's stronger?"
Sheila chuckled softly, covering her mouth with a hand. "There's no need. I'm not interested in challenging potential allies. Besides..." Her eyes shifted to Jay's back. "It's rare to encounter a Spirit Summoner who can summon a Divine Spirit Weapon."
Jay's eyes narrowed, but he didn't deny it. Instead, he asked directly, "If you're also investigating the Celestial King's faction, why are you here alone? No matter how strong you are, taking them on solo seems risky."
Sheila's expression turned more serious. "The Celestial King's faction has been increasingly active in various regions, especially in areas with barrier trees or dense spiritual energy. I intended to infiltrate their base for intel, but the situation in Silverleaf Town caught me off guard."
"Caught off guard?" Vilk asked, puzzled. "Do you mean the Silverleaf Tree?"
Sheila nodded, her gaze drifting toward the town's center. "The Silverleaf Tree is extraordinary. Its spiritual energy is far purer than that of an ordinary barrier tree. Places like this tend to attract those with insatiable greed for power."
Jay pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you know what the Celestial King's faction is truly after?"
Sheila shook her head. "Not yet. But I'm certain they're not simply after the Silverleaf Tree. It's likely part of a larger plan, with the tree's spiritual energy playing only a small role."
"Then we need to dig deeper into the town," Jay said decisively.
Sheila smiled slightly. "That's exactly my plan. If you don't mind, I'd like to join you."
Vilk waved a hand, grinning. "We'd be glad to have you. And who wouldn't welcome a beautiful Spirit Summoner as company?"
Sheila ignored his playful remark, her gaze remaining steady as she looked ahead. "Then let's go. The Celestial King's faction won't give us much time."
Having reached an understanding, the three of them moved deeper into the town, leaving the young boy in a safe location. As they advanced, their expressions grew more serious. Despite the town's outward tranquility, their spiritual senses picked up a hidden yet potent oppressive presence.
"It seems this will be a tough battle," Jay murmured, his hand resting on the handle of the Scorching Sky Halberd, ready for whatever might come.