"I am ready for the trial." Adrian stated which made the Essence of the World Tree smile and nod as a notification appeared in front of him.
Quest Name: Go to the End of the Forest of No Return
Quest Difficulty: Unknown
Quest Description: A test for the Fae for their bravery and ingeniousness is to traverse the Forest of No Return. Reach the End of the Forest of No Return and get a flower from the garden there to signify your completion.
Clear Condition: Get a Flower from the Garden located at the end of the Forest of No Return
Clear Reward: A Dewdrop from the World Tree
Failure Condition: Unable to complete the quest in the given duration.
Failure: Unable to complete the quest will result in the displeasure of the World Tree.
Duration: 10 days
Restriction: Only the being that is chosen by World Tree located in Alfheim can participate in this quest.
"You are to take a flower from the garden at the End of the Forest of No Return and bring it to me. This is a test for all the Fae that wish to venture out into the outside realm. The only thing that I can tell you is that you must never lose sight of what you need to do. Danaya will guide you to the entrance of the Forest of No Return. I hope you complete my trial, Champion Equinox." The Essence of the World Tree stated as she vanished along with the pocket dimension.
When Adrian finally noticed his surroundings, he can see that he and Elder Danaya are standing inside a dark room where only glowing moss can be seen. The Essence of the World Tree is truly a fearsome entity as he could feel that it was on par with a High God. The fact that it could create pocket dimensions within its own body is something only powerful beings that lived long can do.
"You must be wondering how easy it was for Mother Tree to create pocket dimensions. The Mother Tree is actually the original world tree of the world of Pangea." Elder Danaya stated which shocked Adrian.
"But the main world had a world tree before it was destroyed. A new one has just sprouted in order to aid the world again." Adrian stated.
"That unfortunate world tree is actually one of the seedlings created by the Mother Tree. The Mother Tree knew that the fragmented worlds would not be able to live for long without her support which is why she split herself into numerous fragments and entrusted dryads to take care of them. The dryads rooted to their respective world trees are also unfortunate because they will have the same fate as the world tree they are guarding." Elder Danaya stated.
Adrian suddenly remembered the Dryad Makiling that died as the World Tree of the main world died. She might have died but her death also brought forth numerous births of beings dedicated to the balance of the world. Adrian knew that the Dryad Makiling still lives on through Levin Cloud as he became a Leshy thanks to her seed.
"Enough heavy talk as you need to be as bright and happy if you are to enter the Forest of No Return." Edler Danaya stated as she once again used her movement magic which made Adrian and her get swallowed up by a large flower bud.
"I smell like daisies now." Adrian commented as he regained his vision and is now in front of a forest that spanned a large area.
"Maybe a daisy plant answered my call. I do not know which plant answers my call, but it is great that you smell nice now. You smell too much of a demon earlier." Elder Danaya stated as Adrian changed to his Aetheros form since that might be a clue that his aura can affect the forest.
"Despite its name, the forest itself looks nice and not creepy in a way. You can even feel the life inside that is teeming with numerous flora and fauna." Adrian commented as he naturally felt it better since he changed his form.
"That is the reason why it is called the Forest of No Return. You do not return because it is dangerous. You do not return because it is too lovely and a paradise to be in. This is as far as I will go, Champion Equinox. I pray that you pass this test with the given time. Remember that time itself is not what it seems inside that forest." Elder Danaya stated as she into a pile of leaves.
"I guess that is all the hints that I will get for this trial. Can I try to fly over the forest?" Adrian thought as he unfurled his wings and flew to the sky.
As soon as Adrian tried to fly above the Forest of No Return, he suddenly felt a powerful force push him back down to the ground. He tried once more but he will always end up back to the ground flying only a meter above the grass. He looked up in the skies and even wind elementals were not freely flying which meant that even beings of pure wind could not traverse the skies of the Forest of No Return.
"I guess the only choice is to enter then. I should summon my soulbounds that can help me with this." Adrian stated as he tried to summon Sirius and Wisteria.
[An unidentified force is interfering with your summoning magic. You cannot summon any of your soulbounds in this area.]
Adrian is shocked as it happened again. He cannot summon his soulbounds once again due to a powerful force interfering with the magic around him. He suddenly felt that the quest became much more difficult as he often relied on his soulbounds for scouting and such. This is the basics of a summoner after all since they are one with their soulbounds.
"I can just think of this as training again." Adrian told himself as he pushed onwards into the Forest of No Return.