The Married Life Of Immortals

Bane, guided by Eve, moved from symbol to symbol, carefully aligning each one with its corresponding rune on the archway. With every correct placement, the connection between the symbols and runes glowed brighter, and the air around them hummed with growing energy. Finally, as Bane adjusted the last symbol, a resonant hum filled the clearing, and the runes on the archway flared to life.

The archway shimmered, and the runes pulsed with a steady rhythm. Bane stepped back, feeling a mix of triumph and apprehension. "I think we did it."

Lysia nodded, her eyes fixed on the now-active archway. "Good work. Now, let's see what's on the other side."

As the group gathered before the archway, Mizuage muttered under his breath, "Just a fluke. Pure luck."

Ignoring him, Lysia raised her hand, and a green energy swirled around her fingers. She channeled the power into the archway, and with a brilliant flash, a portal opened within the stone frame, revealing a swirling vortex of light.

"Stay close and be ready for anything," Lysia instructed, stepping through the portal first.

Bane, Wei Nam Lee, and a reluctant Mizuage followed her, bracing themselves for whatever lay ahead. The sensation of passing through the portal was disorienting, like being pulled through a tunnel of light and energy. When they emerged on the other side, they found themselves in a dense forest, vastly different from the one they had just left.

The air here was thick with humidity, and the sounds of unfamiliar creatures echoed around them. The forest was teeming with life, its flora and fauna, unlike anything they had seen before. Strange, luminescent plants glowed softly in the dim light, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

"Where are we?" Bane asked, scanning their surroundings.

Lysia took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the area. "It seems we've arrived in another realm. We need to stay vigilant. Our purpose here isn't to learn about the land, but to find who or what is the power source for this portal."

Bane nodded but frowned. "While I know that is the point, what happens after we destroy this power source? Won't the portal close? How will we get back?"

Lysia's expression softened slightly, a hint of reassurance in her eyes. "Don't worry. I have a return mechanism prepared. Once we find and neutralize the power source, I can reopen the portal from this side. The important thing is to make sure nothing hostile can use it to invade our island."

Bane nodded, feeling a bit more at ease, but still wary of their surroundings. The group moved cautiously through the dense forest, their senses on high alert for any signs of danger. Mizuage lagged slightly behind, his pride still stinging but his curiosity piqued by the new environment.

As they trekked deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew more oppressive. The trees seemed to close in around them, and the strange luminescent plants cast unsettling shadows. Every rustle and distant cry of an unknown creature set their nerves on edge.

After a while, Bane spoke up. "How do you know where we are going?"

Lysia looked over and then pointed to her eyes. "I identified the energy used to create that portal. Whenever someone uses energy of any type, it almost always has to run through their body, even if they draw it in from outside of the body. This leaves something like a scent that people like you and I with mana veins can track. By examining and absorbing a small amount of the energy, and then infusing it into your eyes with mana will let you see the trail to find them."

Bane's eyes widened at Lysia's explanation. "So, you're basically tracking the energy like a bloodhound?"

Lysia nodded. "Exactly. It's a skill that requires both a keen sense of magic and a lot of practice. You will be able to learn it too, given enough time and training."

As they continued, Bane couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and excitement. This realm was a mystery, and the dangers it held were unknown, but it was also an opportunity to learn and grow stronger. He glanced back at Mizuage, who was still seething silently. Despite his attitude, Bane couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for the once-great dragon. It seemed like the world had moved on without him, and he was struggling to catch up.

They walked for what felt like hours, the dense forest seemingly endless. The oppressive atmosphere began to wear on them, and the strange, glowing flora gave an eerie, otherworldly feel to the place. Finally, Lysia stopped, her eyes narrowing as she examined the ground.

"We're close," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The energy trail is getting stronger."

Bane and Wei Nam Lee moved closer, their senses on high alert. Mizuage, still nursing his wounded pride, reluctantly followed, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Suddenly, the forest opened up into a large clearing. At the center stood a massive, ancient tree, its bark glowing with the same luminescent energy that permeated the forest. The air around the tree was thick with energy, and Bane could feel the power radiating from it.

"That's it," Lysia said, pointing to the tree. "That's the source of the portal's power."

Bane stared at the tree in awe. "It's... beautiful."

Lysia nodded, but her expression was grim. "And dangerous. We need to be careful. Look up deep into the foliage."

Bane focused his gaze upward, scanning the dense foliage of the towering tree. As his eyes adjusted to the shadows, a chill ran down his spine. There, entwined within the gnarled branches, were creatures that appeared partially human but with features melded into vines and bark. Their eyes glowed with a faint, eerie light, and Bane could sense a powerful aura emanating from them.

"These... beings," Bane began cautiously, "what are they?"

Eve's voice echoed in his mind, overlaying the scene with information. 'Those are Tree Spirits, ancient guardians bound to trees like this one. They feed on spiritual energy, often from the spiritual beasts that inhabit these realms. This tree is likely a Nexus Tree, which acts as a focal point for spiritual energy and a gateway between realms.'

Bane relayed this information to Lysia and the others. Lysia's expression tightened with concern, while Wei Nam Lee furrowed his brow in thought. Mizuage, however, grew visibly troubled, his eyes widening in recognition.

"This place..." Mizuage muttered, his voice strained. "It's forbidden. A realm meant to trap the most violent and uncontrollable spiritual beasts from the Nine Heavens."

Lysia turned to him sharply. "Explain."

Mizuage took a deep breath, his pride momentarily forgotten in the face of grim memories. "Long ago, in the hierarchy of the Nine Heavens, there existed realms meant to contain spiritual beasts that threatened the balance. These creatures were too dangerous to roam freely, so they were imprisoned here, bound to trees like this one. The Nexus Trees feed off their spiritual energy, keeping them subdued."

Bane frowned, digesting this new information. "So, this tree is essentially a prison?"

Mizuage nodded gravely. "Yes, but not just any prison. These creatures are powerful, even in their restrained state. If the Nexus Tree were to be disrupted or destroyed, they could break free, unleashing chaos upon both this realm and potentially ours."