As Elena turned right, she caught sight of a small flow of water in the corner, likely coming from the river. Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind.
She recalled asking one of Ethan's colleagues what had really happened. The colleague had mentioned that Ethan had been spotted on the riverbank near a cave, injured, and helped by some locals in the area.
That's it. She had to look into the cave.
A surge of determination filled her as she realized she needed to follow that lead.
Elena immediately rushed back to Willow Village, seeking someone who might know about a cave in the area.
"Auntie, do you know if there's a cave around here?" she asked.
"A cave? Yes, there's one on the west side. You can access it by the left path before you enter the village," the old woman replied.
The elderly woman's expression shifted to one of concern.
"Young lady, I don't know what your reasons for wanting to go there, but that place is filled with poisonous insects, and it's quite far from here. I strongly suggest you don't go."
Elena felt a surge of gratitude upon hearing that there was indeed a cave, but she quickly lied, wanting to ease the woman's worries.
"Aunt, I'm just curious. I don't have any interest in going."
"Good! It's dangerous to go there,"
Elena looked at the old woman and thanked her once more before leaving hurriedly; time was running out. She hoped that Ethan and Poochi were safe.
She drove along the path leading to the cave, but when the road path disappeared, and the area became unclear, she stopped to assess her surroundings. After thoroughly checking the area, she parked the truck safely and stored it inside her space.
Satisfied, she entered her space and changed into more suitable attire for a long walk. Dressed and ready, she made her way through the thick, bushy grass, pushing forward toward the river near the cave.
Elena carefully maneuvered her way through the steep area, feeling a surge of gratitude for the spiritual energy and well water that nourished her body, making her stronger and more resilient.
However, she still felt uncomfortable in her current body, as she hadn't exercised much during the past years. There were times when she felt stiff when attempting certain maneuvers; her mind was eager to take action, but her body struggled to keep up.
She promised herself that once everything was settled and she had gathered what she needed, she would start exercising to improve her strength and coordination.
After an hour of walking, she finally spotted the cave in the distance and hurried toward the river beside it, hoping to find Ethan. But as she searched, she found nothing.
Nervousness crept in as she continued to look ahead. With her machete in hand, she began cutting through the tall grass and small trees to clear a path. Minutes passed without any sign of Ethan, and feeling conflicted, she decided to follow the river and check the surroundings.
Suddenly, she heard a low growl from the opposite side of the riverbank. Anxiety surged through her as she quickly scanned the area. There, she saw a mutated beast that wanted to cross the river, ready to leap and attack Ethan.
Elena's heart raced as she witnessed the scene unfold; it felt like her soul was about to leave her body. She saw Ethan shakily standing up, and Poochi was ready to push his master toward the river, allowing Ethan a chance to escape.
At that moment, everything clicked into place. She finally understood how Ethan had survived in the past—Poochi had sacrificed himself to save Ethan by taking the bait, allowing Ethan to be washed away in the river and spotted by locals near the cave.
Her throat felt dry, and tears welled in her eyes as she processed the weight of her remorse. Watching this unfold made her acutely aware of how she had acted in the past. She even refuses to allow Poochi to attend her wedding because she fears the dog.
How does Ethan feel when she acts that way? She feels totally guilty for treating this loyal dog.
This time, she promised to treasure everything Ethan held dear, vowing to have no more regrets.
As the mutated beast began to cross the river, she sprang into action. Although she lacked explosives or high-tech weapons, she remembered how space-ability users used their powers.
Elena glanced at the massive stone behind her and stored it inside her space. After using the space, she felt a wave of dizziness, but she pushed it aside and moved closer to the scene.
With determination, she released the stone above the mutated beast, and it fell with a crushing force, killing it instantly. Water splashed everywhere, but Elena's focus remained solely on Ethan.
Seeing his disheveled appearance and the injuries covering his body, tears streamed down her cheeks as she called out to him.
"Ethan."
Ethan turned to look behind him and saw his wife. A weak but passionate plea escaped his lips.
"Elena, my wife."
Just as his consciousness began to fade, Elena rushed to his side, desperate to reach him.