Bebak listened intently as Ranzak revealed he had found a way to initiate his father's plan—a legacy left for the next generation. When Ranzak explained the procedure, Bebak was mind-blown. His only questions were, "How can we gather all these ingredients? And how did you even come up with this?"
Ranzak pouted and replied, "Don't underestimate my ability to break codes!"
"Wait, what?" Bebak asked, confused. "Breaking codes? My father left me only one code and one letter. The files the fake third chief gave me—I burned all of them. How is there another code?"
Ranzak grinned proudly. "In your father's files, some words had double letters that made no sense. When I arranged them in the right order, they formed a phrase. But I still wonder why he made it so difficult to pass on this message."
"And what did the message say?" Bebak asked, leaning closer.
Ranzak handed him a piece of paper. On it was written: "The secret lies in the core of the city."
Bebak stared at the message in disbelief. "He knew we'd build a city. Or maybe he buried something in the center—something precious."
"What if it's beneath the roots of the Ash Tree?" Ranzak suggested.
The Ash Tree stood at the heart of the city, and Bebak agreed it could be the "core" his father referred to. Ranzak quickly organized a city-wide effort to dig beneath the tree. Days passed as they dug deeper, cutting through every root. Finally, a villager called out, "Ranzak! I hit something! I can't dig any further."
Ranzak rushed over, clearing away the dirt with his hands. There, embedded in the ground, was a box made of a strange stone. He carried it to the river to clean it, revealing a keyhole. However, no key was found.
An idea struck Ranzak. "What if we use a stick from the Ash Tree?"
When they tried to cut a branch, they were surprised to find the tree's wood had hardened like steel. Even in Bebak's lab, they couldn't carve off a piece. But when they placed the tree back into the ground, its wood softened. They quickly took a stick and removed the box. Surprisingly, even outside the ground, the stick remained as hard as steel.
With the steel-like stick in hand, Ranzak joked, "There's no way this will actually work—" but as he placed the stick into the keyhole, it transformed, molding perfectly into a key. The chest clicked open, revealing an orb filled with blood, surrounded by a translucent membrane. Inside the chest, instructions were inscribed in images, directing them to throw the orb into the Ash Tree.
Following the instructions, Ranzak hurled the orb into the tree. The blood was absorbed instantly, and the tree underwent a rapid transformation. The stick liquefied and merged with the tree. Suddenly, a deep voice echoed:
"You took your time bringing me back. Where's the temple? I had something to sacrifice... Wait—this isn't my time. Who are you?"
The people stared at the tree, speechless.
The voice continued, "It seems you can't understand me. Let me sift through my memories... Can you understand me now?"
"Yes," Ranzak replied nervously. "But what are you? Who are you? And why is a tree talking?"
The tree chuckled. "So rude. I wasn't always a tree. I was a being like you, but an experiment went horribly wrong. I come from the past. This tree you see is the Tree of Life. Its ash-like appearance is a reminder of my name: Phoenix, like the mythical bird. To regain my body, I'll need more drops of blood."
Phoenix continued, "This world is older than you think, and you're all part of me. Long ago, you were normal Homo sapiens. But a kind group cared for me, and I rewarded them with a portion of my power. Unfortunately, that power consumed them, turning them into mindless beasts. Before my powers faded, I sealed some of my blood in this orb and inscribed instructions to maintain balance. Your druidic abilities stem from me, but I had to seal much of your ancestors' power to prevent destruction."
Bebak said, "We owe you everything. Thank you for giving us the power of the mind."
Phoenix asked, "Why wake me now?"
Ranzak explained, "We're searching for a way to unlock our powers, but we can't find it."
Phoenix sighed. "Unlocking that power is dangerous. It requires immense willpower and a strong mind to resist losing oneself in its depths. Even I don't fully understand the extent of my power. My memories are fragmented, but I recall four things: my name, my kind's name, the power I gave, and the fact that I am now a tree."
Bebak smiled, trying to comfort him. "Phoenix, don't worry. Your memories will return in time. For now, let us help you regain your body."
Bebak dropped four more drops of blood onto the tree. Phoenix's transformation began. The leaves and roots disappeared as the branches and trunk merged, forming a humanoid shape. His skin became a blend of human and druid features. After an incredible metamorphosis, Phoenix had a body again.
Though he resembled a person, he couldn't walk or speak properly at first. For five months, he was fed mashed fruits and vegetables, slowly regaining his strength. Within a month, he could move and speak fluently, as if his previous condition had never existed.
During this time, Cuen was eight months pregnant, and Bebak eagerly anticipated the birth of their child. The city continued to flourish, and under Phoenix's guidance, the druids enhanced their bodies to withstand hard labor, though their powers remained dormant. The population grew rapidly as their physical condition improved, solving the previous reproductive challenges.
One day, Bebak approached Phoenix, asking, "You come from another kind. What was your race called?"
Phoenix's expression softened with nostalgia. "We were the Verum Mastrom, an ancient race. I am the last of my kind."
Bebak placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're a good person, Phoenix. Your memories will return one day. Until then, don't force yourself."
Phoenix smiled faintly. "Thank you, Bebak. I hope so too."