"All right, hold on. I'm going to ask you what I want you to answer as my final question," Paltio said, trying to steady himself in front of the mysterious entity. "What are you doing in this mental plane? And… where is the missing piece of the scepter?"
The True let out a low, resonant laugh, like a distorted echo in an endless cavern.
"Well, well, boy. No double questions, though I admire your attempt to sneak two into one. I'll only answer the first part. The reason I'm here is that I sensed power emanating from this side of the plane. So, I decided to go." The entity paused and extended one of its tentacles toward a nearby sphere, where Golden floated motionless, encased in viscous black liquid. "Don't worry, I haven't harmed him. He's merely in stasis. I'll release him soon."
Paltio felt a fleeting sense of relief at those words, but a deep sadness quickly washed over him. He knew he wouldn't have time to find the piece of the scepter now. Still, he made a silent vow to himself: Perhaps if I enter this plane again, I can search for it.
The True, as if reading his thoughts, responded with a voice dripping with mockery:
"You think returning here will help you find the piece? You're even more foolish than you look. Another reason I came was to seal this plane. Now that Avocios is gone, anyone could enter and claim the power of perpetual knowledge hidden here."
Paltio lowered his gaze, frustration welling up inside him.
"I should've asked him where it was…" he muttered under his breath.
"Relax, boy. The truth is harsh, but I must admit you've grown on me. Before I close this plane, I'll give you a clue." The gelatinous entity began to shift slowly, its dark edges rippling like murky water. Eventually, it took the shape of an eight-armed starfish, pitch-black, with a single eye at its center. The iris burned with eternal flames, and below it emerged a mouth filled with sharp teeth and a long, twisted tongue.
"This is my form, boy. Just so you know," The True said, its lips curling into a crooked smile.
Then, with a casual gesture, it released Golden from the sphere. The golden entity fell to the ground with a gasp, confused and disoriented.
"Paltio, what happened?" Golden asked, still staggering as he regained his balance.
Paltio gave him a quick glance, nodding subtly toward the towering figure before them. Golden looked up, and when he saw the immense being standing there, his face went pale.
"Lord… The True…" Golden stammered, his voice trembling.
"Did I scare you, boy? Or would you prefer something like this?" The entity swiftly rearranged some of its limbs, adopting a humanoid shape with arms and legs—though it still unmistakably resembled a twisted, dark starfish.
Golden swallowed hard before replying:
"It wasn't bad the way it was before, but… this works too."
The True let out a deep, resonant chuckle.
"Well, I'm glad you approve, Golden. Now then, before I leave, Paltio, I'll tell you where you can search for the final piece."
One of The True's gelatinous arms stretched toward Paltio, touching his forehead. In that instant, vivid images flooded the young man's mind: desolate landscapes, shattered mountains, and a hidden cave beneath a waterfall of fire. A wave of vertigo washed over him as the visions faded as quickly as they had come.
"We may meet again, boy," The True said in an enigmatic tone as its form began to dissolve. "Good luck saving your god. Farewell."
Golden hurried over to Paltio, still glancing at the spot where the entity had been.
"How is it you weren't terrified standing face-to-face with that colossal being? I mean, I almost died of fright," Golden remarked, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"Of course, I was scared… but since he had me pinned, I couldn't move or escape," Paltio replied, still trembling slightly.
"Yeah, typical of Lord True," Golden muttered, rolling his eyes. He then attempted to take a step forward but stopped abruptly. "And now, how are we getting out? I can't move either."
"The True said he'd close this space… So any moment now…" Paltio began, but before he could finish, a voice resonated through the air.
"Three, two, one… Goodbye."
Both felt the ground beneath their feet vanish, and an invisible force hurled them out of the search plane.
When Paltio opened his eyes, he saw Lukeandria, Mok, and Aresus leaning over him. They were in the same place where his journey into the mental plane had begun.
"Well, lad, now you know where what's missing is," Aresus said sternly, crossing his arms. "It's about time; you've been sitting in that lotus position for over five hours."
"I know where we need to go," Paltio said, rising slowly and brushing off the dust. He looked at the others with determination. "We must head to the hidden cave beneath the waterfall of fire."
Without another word, Aresus opened the door leading to the exit of the house.
"What are you waiting for? An invitation? Let's go."
The three followed without hesitation, ready to face whatever awaited them on the other side.
Deep within the forest, a man wearing a golden mask struck a tree in frustration.
"Damn it! We haven't been able to free our people. I can't believe how powerless I feel against those shadows!" he growled, punching the trunk until splinters flew into the air.
A burly man with a white mask approached him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down, sir. We'll find a way."
At that moment, a third voice emerged from the shadows.
"Perhaps I can help."
Both men turned swiftly, assuming defensive stances. Upon recognizing the newcomer, they relaxed.
"Is that you, Godar?" asked the leader with the golden mask, relief evident in his voice.
Godar was a man in his forties, but his agility and stealth belied his age. Half-Reedalian and half-Hassdalian, he was known as the group's most reliable—and questionable—informant.
"Always at your service, Lord of Reedalia," Godar said, bowing respectfully. "Thanks to me, you've managed to save the few you have here. I'm here for whatever you need."
The burly man, Jock, snorted distrustfully.
"All right, Godar. Always so opportunistic. What do you have for us this time?"
Godar smirked, half-turning as he extended a rolled-up map.
"Well, my friend Jock, always so sharp and straight to the point. Take a look at this: I found one of the blueprints of the realm. There's an underground tunnel network we can use to infiltrate and free our people. Here you go."
The leader took the map cautiously, studying it briefly.
"Not bad. It might work. I'll gather the men. Thanks, Godar."
"I live to serve you, oh great lord of Reedalia. I'll retreat to uncover more secrets and perhaps arrange a distraction or two. Until next time." With an exaggerated bow, Godar vanished among the trees, moving like a ghost.
Jock frowned, staring at the spot where Godar had stood.
"Seriously, sir, do you trust that guy? I wouldn't put my faith in that slimy liar. That rat has never given me a good vibe."
The leader remained silent for a moment, his dark eyes lost in the horizon. Finally, he spoke:
"We don't have many options, Jock."
"Relax, my loyal friend Jock," said the golden-masked leader, placing a firm hand on his companion's shoulder. "Godar has helped us quite a bit, not to mention providing key locations for our attacks."
"Yes, but with every single one of these 'helps,' we've nearly lost our lives," Jock retorted, crossing his arms with a scowl.
The leader sighed, adjusting his mask as he gazed into the distance with determination.
"Calm down. With what he just gave us, we finally have a real chance. We can end this and free our realm."
Before they could continue their conversation, a soldier burst into the clearing with urgency, gasping for breath.
"Sir, sir! An object fell from the sky! It's strange… Come see, quickly!"
Jock and the leader exchanged a quick glance before following the soldier to the site of impact. Upon arrival, they found themselves facing a massive artifact lodged between tree trunks as if it were a celestial stake. Its metallic surface was covered in strange markings that faintly glowed under the dim light of the forest.
"But what the hell is that?" Jock asked, approaching cautiously while eyeing the object with suspicion.
The leader furrowed his brow, examining the markings closely. His expression was a mix of curiosity and concern.
"I hope this isn't trouble," he murmured, more to himself than to the others.