(Arun's Pov) 

As I descended into the dark depths of the well, an overwhelming sense of unease began to creep over me. The air grew heavier, denser—each breath felt like a battle. Despite the suffocating tension, I forced myself to remain calm. There was no time to waste. 

At the bottom, I found myself in a long cave tunnel. A faint, dark-red light glimmered at its far end, pulsing weakly as though its vitality was slipping away. My fear tightened its grip on me, and I could feel anxiety building in my chest. “What is this place?” I murmured under my breath, my voice barely audible as I scanned the cave walls. Ancient ruins adorned the entire cavern, their intricate carvings etched into stone—a forgotten relic hidden beneath a lonely well. 

As I moved closer to the tunnel’s end, I saw it: a strange crystal jutting out from the ground. It had been the source of the red glow, once radiant and alive, but now it was dim and lifeless—a pale, dull white shadow of its former brilliance. Lying next to it was Kailu, sprawled motionless on the ground. 

The moment I saw Kailu, I acted without hesitation. I scooped him up and hoisted him onto my back. There was no time to linger or investigate further. Something was wrong in the village—I could feel it in my very essence. My mana, intrinsically linked to my wife’s, allowed us to sense each other’s emotions when they grew intense. And now, her feelings flooded me, sharp and urgent. She was struggling with something, but I didn’t know what. 

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, a voice rang out. It was disjointed and cryptic, the words fragmented and hard to decipher. Then, a single phrase emerged clearly, piercing through the confusion and sending a chill down my spine. I stood frozen, shaken by the words, unable to make sense of their meaning. 

Confusion swirled within me, compounded by the torrent of emotions I was absorbing from my wife’s struggles in the village. It was almost too much to bear. But I couldn’t allow myself to falter—not now. I needed to stay composed. 

With Kailu secured on my back, I retraced my steps through the tunnel and reached the base of the well. The climb back up was grueling. Kailu’s weight bore down on me, as though an invisible force was trying to drag us back. My foot slipped once, my heart skipping a beat as I teetered on the edge of disaster. But I clenched my teeth and pushed forward, regaining my balance and continuing the ascent. 

When I finally reached the surface, I lifted my head over the edge, scanning my surroundings. Seira was nowhere in sight. “Seira?” I called out, my voice echoing into the silence. There was no reply. A gnawing fear clawed at my mind, the possibility of having lost her flooding my thoughts. Where could she have gone? What could have taken her from here? 

“Seira?!” I shouted once more, my voice so loud that it sent birds scattering into the air. But once again, there was no reply. Panic gripped me as I scanned the surroundings in every direction even more, desperately hoping to hear even the faintest sound of her—just the smallest noise from that little girl was all I needed. In a fit of desperation and frustration, I charged forward, determined to scour the forest, turning it upside down if I had to. 

And that’s when I heard it. “Stay away!” 

Seira’s voice rang out, tiny and fearful, and it was clear that she was terrified—she needed my help. Instantly, I knew where it was coming from. I raced toward the sound of her cry, my heart hammering in my chest. When I finally reached her, I found Seira sitting on the ground, leaning against the trunk of a tree, her ankle clearly sprained and her body drenched in sweat. It seemed she had run herself ragged, pushing herself too far until exhaustion caught up with her, and that’s probably when she’d tripped. 

But my attention was quickly diverted as I saw what loomed over her: a massive celestial mana beast, its massive teeth bared and ready to sink into its prey. It must have been drawn to Seira's divine mana essence, sensing it when she was alone. She had never once been by herself until now. The elders had ensured that she was always accompanied by someone, ever since they first learned of her birth. But now, here she was, vulnerable. And the beast was about to strike, poised to end her life. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, I surged forward, moving as fast as I could. But deep down, I knew there was no way I could close the distance in time. The mana beast was already too close, and I was too far away. If I didn’t imbue my body with wind, I wouldn’t make it. 

“O boundless winds, guide my soul and shatter the chains of stagnation. Grant me the swiftness of light! Zephyr Step: Argent Glide!” I whispered urgently, and in the blink of an eye, I felt the magic take hold. With Kailu still clinging unconscious to my back, I sliced effortlessly through the air, cutting straight through the celestial mana beast with barely any resistance, closing the gap in an instant. My blade passed through it like a hot knife through soft leaves. 

When I reached Seira, I saw the mixture of emotions on her face—confusion, fear, and then, at last, relief. I tried to reassure her, my voice gentle as I knelt beside her. “It’s okay, Seira,” I murmured, reaching out to take her trembling hand. “I’m here now.” 

I wiped the tiny tears from her cheeks and pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly. The sun had fully set, and the creeping darkness made me realize just how much time we’d lost—how much time I had wasted in the well. “Oh no, the village,” I whispered, the sudden weight of the situation crashing over me. I had been so focused on saving Seira that I hadn’t given a thought to the village or to my wife. 

We pushed through the forest, a thick fog beginning to cloud my vision. “Is everything okay? Is Kailu okay?” Seira’s voice came from beside me, laced with confusion and fear. She was afraid of the worst. I paused, gathering my thoughts before responding. 

“Yes, everything’s fine,” I assured her. “Kailu’s just taking a little nap. But we need to hurry back to the village.”