The Mage's Path: Chapter 32

Hi all, 

Here’s the first chapter for the week.

Chapter 32

The Griever approached Harry, its wings tucked into its sides. It was much larger than the others and had a thick, dark mane, leading him to believe it was the Alpha.

Harry's hand instinctively moved toward his weapon, muscles tensing as the beast drew near. The text above its head showed that it was level sixty-five. Not something he wanted to fight. 

The Griever lowered its head, nostrils flaring as it inhaled deeply. Its golden eyes, intelligent and piercing, locked onto Harry's with unnerving intensity.

"Stay still," Harry whispered to Celeste, who hovered anxiously by his ear.

The alpha circled Harry once, twice, its tail swishing behind it. Then, to Harry's astonishment, it dropped into a crouch before him—the same posture Brutus had adopted on Potter Isle. Recognition.

"That’s a relief," Harry murmured, cautiously extending his hand. "I don’t fancy tangling with these beasts.”

The alpha pressed its muzzle against Harry's palm, a rumbling purr vibrating through its throat.

"This is incredible," Harry said, scratching behind the beast's ear. "The bloodline connection works even here."

Celeste zipped around the alpha's head, examining it from all angles. "Try speaking to it. Maybe these are more communicative."

Harry crouched before the alpha, meeting its gaze. "Can you understand me? Can you speak?"

The Griever blinked slowly, its ears twitching. It opened its mouth, emitting a series of rumbling growls and chuffs—sounds carrying meaning but not translating to human speech.

"Limited communication," Harry sighed, straightening. "Same as Brutus."

With the alpha's apparent blessing, the other Grievers approached. Fifteen in total—the Alpha, twelve females, and two male cubs. Unlike the cubs, whose levels registered in the twenties, the adults all displayed levels in the sixties range. More surprisingly, when Harry scanned them, they registered as NPCS rather than monsters.

Harry watched the cubs wrestling, their tiny wings flapping ineffectually as they pounced on each other. 

"What I wouldn't give to transport these beauties back to Potter Isle," Harry said. 

They would bolster the population of Grievers and diversify the gene pool. He didn’t want to rely on one pack to build the next generation. Although he could see some potential trouble with two Alphas living on the same island. They could challenge each other, and the victor would take the other’s mates for themselves. 

"Shame they can't tell me why they're confined here," Harry mused.

"Are you dumb?” Celeste asked. “The clue's in the name. This place was built to keep the Grievers safe."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I gathered that much. My question is why my ancestors didn't bring them out of the Shadowlands. The presence of the pack on Potter Isle indicates they must have taken some Grievers with them."

"Maybe they only took the cubs. They would fit through the gate."

Harry nodded. "Makes sense, but doesn't help with my predicament. How am I supposed to take the adult Grievers out of the dungeon?"

"Why not use your wizard magic and transform them into something else?" Celeste suggested.

"That's not something we've covered in class yet." Harry shook his head. "Even if I could transfigure them, I doubt I'd succeed. Each object or living thing has an internal resistance to change. The bigger and more complex, the more magic and willpower needed."

"Well, think of another idea," Celeste said.

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "I will. But something else bothers me. How does this place exist? Does it run on magic when there's supposed to be none in the Shadowlands? Or is this a natural phenomenon?"

Celeste flew a lazy circle around his head. "Only one way to find out. Let's start exploring this place."

Harry surveyed his surroundings more carefully. The sanctuary consisted of a landmass surrounded by cavern walls and a river. Most of the area appeared to be forested, stretching for several square kilometres at least. 

"I've got an idea to speed up our search." Harry pulled his Nimbus 2000 from his inventory and mounted it. He rose a few metres into the air, watching his mini-map. "If I stay within proximity to the ground, the map still fills out automatically."

The strategy would allow him to quickly map the area and locate key points without searching on foot. Though it wouldn't reveal hidden areas, time constraints made it their best option for this dungeon.

Celeste zipped beside him. "Smart thinking. I approve."

They skimmed low over the forest canopy, Harry's mini-map gradually revealing the sanctuary's layout. Through gaps in the trees, he glimpsed wildlife—deer-like creatures and smaller mammals darting between the trunks. It explained why the Grievers could sustain themselves in this place for so long.

After mapping the entire area, Harry headed for the first marker on his map—a treasure chest. He landed in a small clearing and located the chest inside a hollowed-out fallen tree.

The chest contained their first important find—a piece of the Shadowlands map. It listed key locations within this quadrant, including a place called Potter's Rest, which appeared to be a settlement.

"Do you think this is what my quest wants me to find?" Harry asked, tucking the map into his pocket.

"Only one way to know," Celeste replied. "Let's check the other locations first."

The next chest yielded several health and mana potions. Their final destination lay near the forest's centre. Harry landed in a small glade where a stone shrine stood, weathered but intact. A statue of a robed man dominated the shrine, his face serene beneath a hood. Carved into the base, Harry found a name: Linfred. The name he recalled from the tablets.

Harry ran his fingers across the inscription below the name as he slowly translated it.

"This place is a dimensional fragment," he read aloud. "It exists outside the Shadowlands proper, which means it isn't subject to the same magical restraints."

Was the cave entrance the separation point between the two areas? He didn’t feel anything when he entered the sanctuary. But he understood why Gaia made a safe zone, as it was a respite from the bleakness of the Shadow Realm.

Celeste circled the statue curiously. "Was this area replicated from the actual realm, or did Gaia create this as set dressing to liven the dungeon up?"

"This is likely based on the real Shadowlands," Harry replied. "This is an important part of our history—I doubt Gaia would fabricate it."

"Why didn't your ancestors stay here, then?" Celeste asked. "It has everything they need to survive."

Harry leaned against the shrine, considering. "This is speculation, but I reckon they found a way to activate the gate around the same time. They must have thought what lay on the other side was a better bet."

"Can't blame them," Celeste muttered, glancing toward the cavern ceiling. "Even a beautiful cage remains a cage."

Harry checked his quest timer. They'd spent nearly an hour in this place already. "Come on. Time's still ticking. We need to check out Potter's Rest. It might be the place I've been looking for."

He mounted his broom again and flew back to the Grievers. He told them that he would return soon and find a way to take them out of this place.

The Grievers understood his intentions. The Alpha nudged his chest affectionately before the two returned to the entrance. Harry hoped he didn’t encounter another Shadow Stalker in the cave, as one was enough to fuel his nightmares to last a lifetime.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry and Celeste flew out of the chasm. He oriented himself, consulting the map fragment they'd found in the Beast Sanctuary.

"Potter's Rest should be northeast of here," he muttered, tracing his finger along the parchment. 

Celeste tugged on his ear. "We'd better move. If those wraiths find us again..."

Harry nodded. They flew through the air, keeping low to avoid detection. The barren wasteland stretched endlessly beneath them, broken only by occasional rocky outcroppings and withered trees.

After thirty minutes of flight, Harry spotted structures on the horizon. Potter's Rest nestled against a large hill, a small ribbon of river snaking alongside it.

As they approached, Celeste gasped. "Do you see it? All the buildings have been flattened. It's like a tornado rolled through and destroyed everything."

Harry surveyed the devastation, his brow furrowing. "Not everything." 

He pointed to a small mansion perched on the settlement's edge. Unlike the surrounding ruins, it remained intact, its dark windows staring out like vacant eyes.

He descended, landing in what must have been the town centre. After storing his broom, Harry turned in a slow circle. Celeste's assessment proved accurate—rubble and debris littered the ground where buildings once stood. 

"Let's check out the mansion," Harry said. "It's the most likely place to hold information."

They picked their way through the ruins, occasionally pausing to sift through piles of debris, but found nothing of significant value.

The mansion loomed before them, its stonework weathered but intact. Harry pushed the heavy door. He peered into the gloom, squinting to make out shapes in the darkness. Seeing no immediate threats, he cast a Magelight and stepped inside.

Celeste darted past him but immediately returned to his side. "I don't like this place. The entire house is giving me bad vibes."

"You think there are monsters inside?" Harry drew the Inferno Blade.

"There's something," Celeste replied. "Let's get the search over quickly and leave."

They began exploring the first floor. Each room stood in a state of disrepair, thick dust coating every surface. Despite its condition, the mansion's architecture reminded Harry of Victorian houses he'd seen in old photographs—ornate mouldings, high ceilings, and grand fireplaces. His ancestors had been more sophisticated than he'd first imagined. Or perhaps the mansion had belonged to someone else entirely.

After finding nothing of value downstairs, Harry climbed the creaking staircase to the second floor. He and Celeste froze when a loud groan echoed through the corridor.

"What was that?" Celeste hissed.

Harry listened, but the sound didn't repeat. "Just the house settling.”

The first room they encountered appeared to be an alchemy laboratory. Wall-to-wall shelves housed hundreds of glass containers, their contents long since withered beyond recognition. A worktable dominated the centre, supporting a large cauldron and a leather-bound book.

Harry examined the cauldron first, running his hand along its rim. "Appraisal.”

======Alchemist's Crucible | Level: -- | Epic | Effect: Crafting Tool | Enchantment Slots: 3

Description: A masterwork cauldron forged from rare Shadow Iron. Its unique properties allow for brewing potions of exceptional potency while consuming fewer ingredients. Has enchantment slots to further improve its capabilities.

*Reduces ingredient requirements for all potions by 20%.

*Automatically increases potion quality by one grade.

*Extends potion effects duration by 20%.

*Self-cleaning after every brewing session. ======

"This is brilliant," Harry murmured, carefully storing the cauldron in his inventory.

He turned his attention to the book. Its leather cover, cracked with age, bore the title "Linfred's Potions" in faded gold lettering. Harry opened it gingerly, mindful of its fragility. Inside, dozens of strange recipes filled the yellowed pages, written in the same language he found on Potter Isle.

"This must be Linfred the Potterer's work," Harry said, excitement building in his chest. "The founder of my family line."

He stored the book away, eager to explore it properly when he had more time.

They continued their search, entering what appeared to be an office. A massive oak desk commanded the space, flanked by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves laden with tomes.

Harry ran his fingers along the book spines, disappointed to discover they couldn't be removed—they were merely window dressing.

"Look," Celeste called, hovering over the desk. "There's a note."

Harry approached, settling into the hard wooden chair. A single parchment lay in the centre of the desk.

"What does it say?" Celeste perched on his shoulder.

"To whomever cometh here, seeking our tribe's most precious artefact," Harry translated slowly, "I beseech thee to depart forthwith. The artefact is perilous and may wreak great calamity in the wrong hands. Our tribe shall use it but once to escape these dying lands, but there is a heavy price to be paid. Two choices lie before thee. Leave without the artefact, with no further consequence for thy trespass. The second choice is to take the artefact from the drawer and bear the consequences thereof."

"What does he mean by consequences?" Celeste asked, eyeing the desk warily.

Harry frowned. "I don't want to find out, but I need the artefact to complete the quest."

"It's going to be another monster, isn't it?" Celeste sighed. "Let's prepare first."

Harry retrieved a meal from his inventory. The food bolstered their combat parameters, preparing them for whatever happened next.

After finishing, Harry took a deep breath and pulled open the desk drawer. Inside lay an amulet, its chain tarnished with age. A blood-red stone was attached to it. He reached out and lifted it carefully.

Before he could appraise it, the mansion began to shake. Dust rained from the ceiling and the floor beneath them buckled, wood splintering with sharp cracks.

Harry staggered as another violent tremor rocked the mansion. 

"We need to get out!" He shoved the amulet into his pocket and bolted for the door.

Celeste darted ahead as a thunderous crack split the air. The floorboards behind them splintered, creating a widening chasm. Harry leapt forward, clearing the gap by centimetres as the office collapsed.

They raced toward the staircase only to skid to a halt before a solid wall where the stairs had been moments earlier, wooden panelling seamlessly integrated with the surrounding structure. Harry pressed his palm against the barrier in disbelief.

A statue launched itself from across the corridor. Harry ducked, and it shattered against the wall behind him. Books flew from shelves, candlesticks pitched themselves like javelins, and a heavy mirror tore itself from its mountings to crash where he'd stood seconds before.

"The house is the monster!" Harry shouted. "Scan!"

======Living Mansion | Level: 25 | Type: Elite | Animated Structure | HP: 3200/3200 | MP: 0/0 | 

Primary Attributes: Strength: 45 | Endurance: 60 | Perception: 35 

Defence: 30 

Primary Skills

Structural Shift: Alters internal layout to trap intruders. 

Poltergeist Assault: Hurls objects at targets with deadly force. 

Crushing Embrace: Constricts rooms to crush occupants. 

Trap Activation: Triggers hidden mechanisms throughout its structure. 

Monster Traits

Distributed Consciousness: Cannot be killed by attacking a single area. 

DIY Regeneration: Repairs structural damage. 

Burning Down the House: Fire damage slows regeneration by 90%. 

Vulnerability: The Core is located in the basement.

======

Exp: 3000 

Loot: 750 pounds; ???

Bestiary Entry: 0/1 defeated. 

Description: Once the proud home of a noble family, this mansion has now gained sentience and malevolence. It lures people inside with promises of valuable artefacts, then seals and consumes them. Their essence has been incorporated into its structure over centuries, granting it intelligence and spite. =======

The Inferno Blade flashed from its sheath as Harry slashed at the nearest wall. The weapon sank deep, black flames spreading across the wooden panelling. The mansion shuddered, the structure groaning in pain.

Living Mansion's HP: 3150/3200

The building retaliated instantly. The ceiling above Harry collapsed in a shower of debris. He rolled forward, narrowly avoiding being crushed. As he regained his footing, the floorboards beneath warped, forming a sudden incline. His boots scraped against the polished wood as he fought for balance, but momentum carried him downward.

Harry tumbled into what had once been a dining room, the doors slamming shut with multiple clicks as locks engaged. The massive oak table lurched forward with terrifying speed, pinning him against the wall. Pressure built against his ribs, threatening to crush him.

Harry's HP: 360/400

Celeste's whip cracked repeatedly, splintering the table legs. As pressure eased, Harry wrenched himself free and staggered upright, only to freeze in place.

The floor between them had transformed, wooden planks splitting to reveal rows of wooden spikes. Only narrow, irregular paths remained safe for crossing. At the far corner, a trapdoor lay partially visible beneath a heavy sideboard—their only route to the basement and the mansion's core.

Harry navigated the spike maze with excruciating care, testing each step. The building quaked again, sending chandeliers swinging violently overhead. One broke free, plummeting directly toward him. He flung himself forward as crystal shards exploded across the floor.

Reaching the sideboard, Harry braced his shoulder against the solid oak and pushed. The massive furniture barely shifted. Celeste joined him, her tiny form straining against the wood. Harry wedged the Inferno Blade beneath as leverage, black flames scorching the polished surface as he heaved with everything he had.

The mansion unleashed a fresh assault. Picture frames, vases, and silverware launched themselves from every wall and surface. A butter knife grazed Harry's cheek, drawing blood. A silver platter struck his shoulder with bruising force. Still, he maintained pressure on the blade.

Harry's HP: 310/400

With a final groan, the sideboard shifted enough to reveal the trapdoor. Harry grabbed the iron ring and pulled, revealing a staircase disappearing into the gloom. They descended quickly, his Magelight illuminating the rough stone walls.

The basement stretched before them—a vast, open chamber supported by stone pillars. At its centre pulsed a massive crystalline structure, emanating sickly purple light. Tendrils of energy stretched from the core to the ceiling, walls, and floor—the mansion's beating heart.

The ground trembled as Harry approached, stone spikes erupting from the floor in his path. He leapt aside, rolling to avoid a second wave. Overhead, the ceiling began to lower, stone grinding against stone as the room attempted to flatten its intruders.

Celeste darted toward the core, Shadow's Reach lashing out to strike its crystalline surface. The whip bounced off with minimal effect.

Living Mansion's HP: 3145/3200

"Fire!" she shouted, dodging a stone pillar as it toppled toward her. "Use the fire!"

Harry circled the core, evading erupting floor traps and falling debris. The room constricted further, the ceiling now low enough to force him into a half-crouch. A floorboard smacked him across the face, disorientating him.

Harry's HP: 280/400

Harry shook his head to clear the cobwebs. He reached the core and drove the Inferno Blade deep into its crystalline structure. Black flames erupted from the contact point, spreading through the purple crystal like veins. The mansion shrieked—a sound of grinding stone and splintering wood resonating through the entire structure.

Living Mansion's HP: 2900/3200

The building's response proved immediate and savage. The remaining pillars exploded outward, sending deadly shrapnel across the chamber. The floor beneath Harry's feet gave way, nearly plunging him into a newly formed pit of stone spikes. He caught the edge with one hand, the Inferno Blade still embedded in the core.

Celeste's whip wrapped around his wrist, providing stability as he pulled himself up. The ceiling continued its inexorable descent, now mere metres above the core.

Harry wrenched the blade free and plunged it in again, channelling all his focus into the strike. The weapon sank deeper, black flames intensifying as they consumed the core from within.

Living Mansion's HP: 2400/3200

Stone teeth erupted from the walls as the mansion's defences grew desperate. The air filled with flying debris—broken glass and stone fragments became a lethal whirlwind.

Harry pressed his advantage, refusing to retreat despite the onslaught. He twisted the blade, grinding it deeper into the crystalline heart. Fire spread through the core's internal structure, weakening it from within.

Living Mansion's HP: 1800/3200

The ceiling descended to just above Harry's head. He dropped to his knees but maintained his grip on the Inferno Blade, forcing it further into the fracturing core.

Living Mansion's HP: 1200/3200

Cracks spread across the crystal's surface, purple light dimming as black flames consumed it from within. The mansion's attacks grew frantic but increasingly uncoordinated. 

Harry drove the Inferno Blade to its hilt into the core, then dragged it downward, carving a deep channel through the crystalline structure. The mansion shuddered violently, its very foundations quaking.

Living Mansion's HP: 600/3200

With a final, desperate effort, Harry wrenched the blade free and brought it down in an overhead strike, cleaving the weakened core in two. The crystal shattered with a deafening report, fragments exploding outward in a shower of purple shards and black flame.

Living Mansion's HP: 0/3200

A silence fell, broken only by the sound of settling debris. The ceiling halted its descent. Slowly, the mansion's unnatural elements began to revert—spikes retracted, walls straightened, and the poltergeist activity ceased.

Living Mansion defeated! Experience gained: 1500 per party member.

Among the core's remains, Harry spotted the money. While it was a tidy sum, it was hardly worth the effort he put into defeating the monster.

"That was a nasty trick the dungeon pulled," Harry muttered, placing the notes into his inventory.

Celeste landed on his shoulder. "How many more monsters does this place have?"

The mansion, now just an ordinary building, creaked around them. Harry tucked the Inferno Blade away and headed for the stairs. The first floor had completely rearranged itself, with the front door now directly accessible from the staircase.

Outside, the bleak landscape of the Shadowlands awaited them once more, unchanged by their battle.

Harry fished out the artefact from his pocket and cradled it in his palm.

"Let's see what was worth nearly getting crushed to death," Harry said. "Appraisal."

======Realm Breaker | Level: -- | Legendary | Type: Dimensional Artifact | Enchantment Slots: 0 

Description: An ancient amulet of unknown origin. Creates pseudo-dimensional gates allowing travel between realms. However, the artefact is highly unstable and contains unpredictable properties. It’s activated by pouring mana into the amulet.

*Creates a temporary dimensional gate when activated.

*Destination cannot be controlled or predicted, unless it’s a dungeon. Returns users to their own world or realm.

*Allows the player to escape dungeons without clearing them, but instantly triggers a dungeon break in the real world. 

*Continued use destabilises the magical foundations of realms.

*Other unknown side effects. ======

Harry's mouth went dry as he read the description. His mind whirled with the implications, and he started putting the pieces together. A horrifying picture began to form. Most of it was pure speculation, but he had a feeling he was on the right track.

It explained so much. The pocket dimensions. The dying magic. All catastrophic consequences from using this artefact.

He envisioned his ancestors, desperate to escape the realm, using the amulet repeatedly, each time unknowingly accelerating the very destruction they fled from. How many tries before they reached his world? How many fragmentary dimensions like the Beast Sanctuary had they accidentally created?

"This thing is dangerous," Harry said, placing the artefact in his inventory.

"What do you mean?" Celeste asked.

"The Beast Sanctuary," Harry said. "What if the dimensional fragment was created by accident, as a result of using this artefact? You once said that the gate was inactive in this realm. What if they couldn't get it to work? The note said they used this artefact to escape."

Celeste tilted her head, considering his words. "But the sanctuary must have been created before they escaped the realm. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a shrine of Linfred."

"What if it wasn't the first time they used it? What if..." Harry trailed off, the thought too terrible to voice.

"Tell me," Celeste prodded.

"What if my ancestors were the cause of the Shadowlands losing its magic?"

Celeste's wings stilled momentarily. "It's a possibility, but it's a massive leap in logic. If using this artefact caused the realm to collapse, then what was their reason for trying to leave before that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they got sick of the place.”

“And if they used it that first time, why didn’t they go through the gate? Or why did they return after seeing what was on the other side?”

Harry shrugged. “Their destination may have been worse than the Shadowlands.”

“It’s possible. In any case, the presence of the artefact raises some interesting questions.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did the artefact originate from here, or did someone bring it here, through a gate it had created?” Celeste asked. “Were humans originally from here? What about the mansion? It seems out of place, right? Maybe someone brought some of their technology and architectural influence with them.”

“Enough speculation,” Harry said. “My head’s starting to spin.”

Celeste giggled. “We still don't have enough information to draw a credible conclusion."

"Then we need to hurry and find it." Harry paused. "I'm almost tempted to use it, so I can bring the Grievers with me."

"Harry, that will trigger a dungeon break. You can't bring the monsters into the real world. Those wraiths will be the first to escape the island."

"What if we were to kill all the monsters before leaving? Or, at least, the majority of them."

Celeste's eyes narrowed. "I thought the entire purpose of having the system is to prevent dungeon breaks."

"To be more accurate, it's to prevent dimensional cracks from adversely affecting our world." Harry stretched his aching shoulders. "If I can take preventative measures beforehand, it should be okay."

"And what about these unknown side effects?" Celeste asked, pointing to his pocket.

Harry grimaced. "That's the only thing stopping me from doing it."

"Well, we still have time to decide," Celeste said. "How about we start searching for the Umbra Queen's sanctuary next? We may stumble upon some more information about this realm's collapse as we are searching."

"Alright. Let’s not waste time. We still have plenty of ground to cover."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry and Celeste continued exploring the Shadowlands for hours, pushing deeper into the second quadrant. The landscape remained disappointingly barren—more dead trees, and more emptiness. Harry checked his watch, grimacing as precious minutes slipped away. Every empty stretch of wasteland felt like a personal insult against their ticking deadline.

"I'm starting to think there's nothing here," Harry said. "We've covered half the quadrant with nothing to show for it."

Celeste buzzed irritably near his ear. "Keep going. We have to find something eventually."

They encountered wraiths three more times during their search. The first group they outpaced easily, but the second and third proved more persistent. The wraiths moved with uncanny speed and anticipated his movements.

"Behind you!" Celeste shouted.

Harry banked hard, narrowly avoiding shadowy claws. The wraith's attack missed by centimetres, but another swooped in from below. This time, he couldn't evade. Talons raked across his calf, tearing through his trousers and drawing blood. He managed to strike one of them, hoping to delay it, rather than kill.

He shot upward, putting distance between himself and the wraiths. But the flock of wraiths did something he didn’t expect. They tore into their injured companion, killing it within seconds. The dying wraith's emission rang out across the wasteland, a piercing wail that carried for kilometres.

Within minutes, they spotted dark shapes converging on their position.

"We need to leave this quadrant," Harry decided, pushing the Nimbus to its limits. "Nothing here is worth this much trouble."

After a narrow escape, they landed in a sheltered ravine to recover. Harry downed a healing potion and rested while Celeste kept watch. Their situation felt increasingly precarious. The monsters weren't individually dangerous, but their numbers and communication abilities created serious challenges.

As soon as they reached the third quadrant, they noticed the difference. Patches of silver-blue grass pushed through the cracked earth, thriving despite the realm's decay. Several different plants could be seen growing among the grass. Harry noted the location, so he could return later to harvest them.

For two hours they methodically covered the quadrant, mapping its features while maintaining vigilance against monster attacks. Just as Harry began considering another change of location, Celeste grabbed his ear.

"Look!" She pointed toward the horizon. "Is that what I think it is?"

Harry squinted, then gasped. In the distance, a colossal tree dominated the skyline, so massive it appeared to be a mountain at first glance. 

"Let's check it out," Harry said, adjusting course.

The journey took another hour. With each kilometre, the tree's true scale became more apparent. By the time they arrived, Harry was awestruck. The trunk's circumference must have been at least a hundred metres.

More impressive still were the structures nestled among its upper branches. Buildings had grown rather than been built, their wooden walls and roofs formed from the tree’s branches. Walkways connected these dwellings, creating an aerial village suspended a few hundred metres above the ground.

Harry slowed as they reached the canopy's edge. "Do you think this is the Umbra Queen's sanctuary?"

Celeste hovered before him. "There's a good chance. It certainly stands out."

"This tree still looks pretty vibrant, considering the circumstances."

"Yes, it's a mystery," Celeste said, impatience evident in her fluttering wings. "Now let's get going. I want to see what my new path will bring me."

Harry descended, landing carefully on a wide platform at the settlement's edge. Up close, the architecture proved even more intricate. Every building was connected to others via an elaborate network of platforms, bridges, and stairways, forming a complex three-dimensional maze.

"This may take a while," Harry murmured, eyeing the confusing layout.

Celeste darted upward for a better vantage point. "We're looking for the queen, right? Where would she be? Certainly not among the peasants."

Harry smirked. "You're starting to sound like a queen yourself."

"Thank you," Celeste preened.

"Then again, you've always been a drama queen."

"Hey!"

They began exploring the aerial village, Harry keeping to the sturdier-looking pathways. Despite how solid the walkways felt underfoot, they swayed with each gust of wind, reminding him uncomfortably of the Aspen Horror Dungeon's platforms. The height made every step feel precarious.

Most structures they passed stood empty, interiors stripped bare long ago. They didn’t bother searching for them, as they focused on completing the quest.

"Harry!" Celeste tugged at his collar, pointing ahead. "Look at that hut at the end of this walkway. There's light coming from the window."

Harry froze, hand instinctively moving to his weapon. Light meant occupation. Occupation meant potential danger.

They approached cautiously, keeping to the shadows. Harry crouched beneath the window, then slowly raised his head to peer inside.

His eyes widened, scarcely believing what he saw.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Celeste gets an upgrade and some more answers to the Shadowlands mystery.

Thanks for reading.