"Nicos, you may continue," Chloe said gently.
"I hope I didn't mishear you earlier. Did you truly say you know a way for us to enter the Spirit Realm from here?"
Her expression grew serious.
"Be careful not to give us false hope."
Nicos nodded.
"Yes, Mother."
"Although it hasn't been verified yet, I can clearly feel that there is no obstruction between my Spirit Being and the Spirit Realm."
The three older adults exchanged meaningful glances.
If what Nicos was saying was true...
Then there truly was another path.
They understood better than anyone what made the Forgotten Region so terrifying.
It wasn't merely the absence of Spirit Essence.
It was the restriction imposed upon ones spirit.
No matter how talented someone was...
No matter how powerful they had once been...
The gate leading to the Spirit Realm simply could not be opened from within the Forgotten Region.
It was as though the entrance had been sealed shut from the opposite side.
No amount of force could unlock it.
Yet what Nicos described sounded entirely different.
Rather than forcing open the sealed gate...
It was like discovering a forgotten passage that bypassed the barrier altogether without violating any of the world's laws.
"Uncle Alfonso... Uncle Nakita..."
"If you observe carefully, you'll notice a thin layer surrounding my body."
"Although I'm standing here, the corrosive essence of the Forgotten Region isn't able to touch me."
The two immediately focused their senses on him.
Moments later, both men's eyes widened.
He was right.
A faint translucent layer enveloped Nicos' body like an invisible veil, quietly repelling the corrosive essence drifting through the atmosphere.
Since arriving in the Forgotten Region, they had long understood that this land was unlike anywhere else.
It wasn't truly part of the Human World.
Nor did it belong to the Spirit Realm.
It existed somewhere in between...
Like a forgotten dimension overlapping reality while remaining detached from it.
Nicos continued,
"The corrosive essence surrounding this region isolates our bodies and suppresses our Spirit Beings."
"I noticed the exact same protective layer surrounding these little Spirit Beasts."
"That's why I believe it originated from the Spirit Stream inside the hidden space."
Everyone instinctively turned toward the four little Spirit Beasts.
Sure enough...
The same translucent barrier quietly surrounded them as well.
The discovery left them speechless.
Just what kind of miraculous place had that hidden space been?
How could such an existence remain concealed within a land abandoned by the world itself?
Chloe looked thoughtfully at her son.
"Nicos..."
"You mentioned earlier that you could actually see the corrosive essence."
"Can you truly see it?"
Nicos blinked.
"You mean... none of you can?"
The three adults shook their heads.
Alfonso answered first.
"No."
"We can only sense its existence."
"No one has ever been able to see the world's essence directly."
"Even those born with Occult Eyes can only perceive traces of elemental energy."
"The essence itself has always remained invisible."
Nicos lowered his head thoughtfully.
"I suppose..."
"That's another gift the hidden space left me with."
Before anyone could continue discussing it—
"Bloke head!"
Tabitha suddenly interrupted.
"What does any of that have to do with entering the Spirit Realm?"
She folded her arms impatiently.
"Can you answer the important question first?"
"You can save the history lesson for another day."
She glanced around dramatically.
"I'm sure even the readers are getting impatient by now."
Chloe sighed helplessly.
"That's enough, Tabitha."
"Do you really think the readers are as impatient as you are?"
Everyone chuckled.
Even Nicos couldn't help smiling.
He had long since learned not to take his sister's antics seriously.
Beneath her sharp tongue was genuine concern.
Reaching into his backpack, he slowly retrieved one of the water flasks.
The moment he removed the stopper—
A refreshing aura instantly spread throughout the room.
The oppressive atmosphere seemed to dissolve.
The foul, corrosive essence was gently pushed aside as pure vitality filled the air.
Everyone instinctively took a deep breath.
Even the room itself felt brighter.
The four little Spirit Beasts immediately turned toward the flask.
Their tiny noses twitched excitedly as they stared longingly at it.
Nicos smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
"This isn't for you."
As though understanding his words, the four cubs reluctantly looked away, though they continued glancing back every few seconds.
"Mother."
"Tabitha."
"Uncle Alfonso."
"Uncle Nakita."
"This is Spirit Water I brought back from the hidden space."
"There are also Spirit Seeds inside."
"Once you drink both together..."
"You'll understand everything I've been trying to explain."
Chloe suddenly asked,
"What about your younger brother?"
Nicos looked toward Barnabas.
"He's still two years away from his Spirit Affirmation Ceremony."
"His portion will be reserved until then."
"I won't allow what happened to me to happen to him because of impatience."
Everyone silently agreed.
After what Nicos had endured...
No one wished to gamble with something so important again.
Waiting another two years was a small price to pay.
Chloe nodded approvingly.
"I agree."
She turned toward Barnabas.
"And you are absolutely forbidden from sneaking any behind my back."
Barnabas immediately raised both hands.
"I understand, Mother."
"I won't make such a foolish mistake."
Although no names were mentioned, everyone understood what he was implying.
Nicos' youthful mistake had changed the course of all their lives.
An awkward silence briefly settled over the room.
Only Tabitha failed to suppress a quiet snicker.
No one bothered reacting.
If she didn't tease someone every few minutes...
She simply wouldn't be Tabitha.
After a moment, Chloe's smile faded slightly.
"I won't be drinking it."
A trace of pain flashed across her eyes before disappearing.
Nicos immediately understood.
Her severed connection with her Spirit Avatar remained unresolved.
Without restoring that first...
The Spirit Water would accomplish very little.
His expression hardened.
"Don't worry, Mother."
"I'll find a way."
"No matter what it takes."
"I'll restore your connection."
"And I'll make the people responsible regret everything they've done."
Alfonso stepped forward.
"So will I."
Nakita nodded firmly.
"As will I."
"Now that we finally have a chance to enter the Spirit Realm..."
"We'll change the course of everything."
Chloe looked at the three of them.
A warm smile slowly blossomed across her face.
"I'll be waiting."
It had been a very long time since she had smiled so sincerely.
For just a brief moment...
She looked years younger.
The flask remained uncapped.
Yet the refreshing aura filling the room didn't diminish in the slightest.
Instead, the surrounding air grew increasingly vibrant, relaxing everyone's body and easing the exhaustion buried deep within their bones.
Nicos carefully poured the Spirit Water into three cups.
Each cup contained three Spirit Seeds.
Since he himself had consumed three...
He assumed they would be able to do the same.
He chose not to mention how many seeds he had actually taken.
Without hesitation, the three drank.
The cool water flowed down their throats.
Immediately afterward, they attempted to swallow the Spirit Seeds.
Unexpectedly—
Only Tabitha managed to absorb more than one.
She successfully consumed two.
Alfonso and Nakita each managed only a single Spirit Seed.
The remaining seeds stubbornly clung to the bottom of their cups as though rooted in place.
No matter how they tilted the cups...
Or tried to coax them free...
The seeds refused to move.
Eventually, both men gave up.
Nicos collected the cups before carefully returning the remaining Spirit Seeds to the flask.
The moment they touched the Spirit Water again...
They slipped effortlessly back inside, as though returning home.
"It seems..."
"The number of Spirit Seeds each person can absorb is predetermined."
Nicos observed thoughtfully.
Then everyone turned toward the three who had just consumed the Spirit Water.
Quiet anticipation filled the room.
No one spoke.
They simply waited.
Watching closely.
Wondering what kind of transformation would unfold.
Moments later...
The first visible change appeared.
It was Tabitha.