With the Cryshard of Eternity secured, the group's next destination was a place whispered about in myths—the Forest of Forgotten Truths. It was said to warp the mind, cloud the soul, and bend reality until truth and illusion became indistinguishable. In its heart bloomed the next relic: the Veilroot Bloom—a mystical flower that revealed truths lost to memory and veiled by pain.
As the trio journeyed toward the forest, the terrain gradually changed from rocky glacial paths to lush, overgrown wilderness. But something felt... wrong.
"Nothing looks real," Ethan muttered. "Even the trees don't cast proper shadows."
Sarah hovered slightly above the ground, her eyes narrowing. "This place bends light... and thoughts."
Lilith took the lead, but even she felt her memories tugging at her like vines around her feet.
The Forest of Forgotten Truths
Upon entering, the forest came alive—not just with sound, but with memory. The trees whispered in languages they remembered but never learned. Every step echoed like a memory. The fog thickened, and soon they were separated.
Lilith's Trial
Lilith found herself in a field of withered roses—each one a failed version of herself. Weak. Angry. Defeated. Her younger self stood at the center, crying.
"You left me behind," it said.
"No," Lilith whispered. "I carried you. You survived in me."
The child smiled, and the field bloomed red again.
Sarah's Trial
Sarah stood before a thousand mirrors, each showing a life where she was normal. Loved. Celebrated.
"Why not stay?" one mirror asked.
"Because I don't need their version of me," she said. "I have mine."
She smashed the mirrors with a gust of invisible wind.
Ethan's Trial
Ethan stood before a blazing city—the one he failed to protect long ago. In the flames stood a boy who once looked up to him.
"I needed you," the boy said.
"I'm here now," Ethan said. "Stronger. Wiser."
He stepped into the flame and emerged holding the boy's hand. The vision vanished.
The three reappeared together at the center of the forest—a clearing where the Veilroot Bloom pulsed with a silvery light. But guarding it was a new enemy.
Villain Encounter: Myrren, the Thorn Matron
Myrren's Profile:
Height: 6'8"
Age: 600+
Type: Plant-Witch Hybrid
Powers: Illusion mastery, venomous vines, emotion leeching
Role: Guardian of the Veilroot Bloom, twisted protector of forgotten truths
Myrren rose from the roots themselves, her body composed of bark, vines, and shadow. "You seek truth? Then bleed for it."
Her illusions attacked them relentlessly, turning each of them against memories of the other. But they held fast, each remembering the campfire, the laughter, and the promises.
When Sarah was pierced by a venomous vine, she collapsed.
"Sarah!" Lilith screamed.
A warmth surged in her chest. Lilith reached for her friend, and golden light erupted from her hands. Her new power—True Healing—sparked to life. Sarah gasped, color returning to her cheeks as the venom was purged.
Together, the three of them stood, blazing with unified strength.
Lilith summoned her sword, Ethan channeled fire and water, and Sarah cloaked herself in invisible wind. They struck in perfect synchronicity, shattering Myrren's illusions and impaling her with fire-forged steel.
Myrren crumbled into a bed of black petals, and the Veilroot Bloom opened.
Lilith picked the flower, and the forest sighed. The illusions faded. The truth, for now, was clear.