Passing through the stabilized Infinity Gate, a wave of air washed over them—a blend of fresh vegetation, the scent of ancient scrolls, and an indescribable atmosphere of wisdom.
Underfoot, Phaethon found himself on a winding path made of warm, smooth stones intertwined with living wood, all nestled amongst enormous branches.
"Huff... Finally let me walk on my own." Cyrene had only allowed Phaethon to walk by himself after endless admonitions and seeing him bolstered by a pile of protective spells.
Though a slight, dull ache remained, it was far better than his previous sorry state.
"So this is the Grove?" Phaethon curiously observed the unique architecture around him—structures that seemed to grow directly from the massive trunks and boughs, merging seamlessly with nature.
Unexpectedly, Phainon began offering an explanation: "Legend says the Titan of Reason, Cerces, did not manifest in human form, but as a 'Great Sacred Tree' connecting heaven and earth."
"She promised humanity could wander, contemplate, debate, and draw from the light of wisdom under its shade. Thus, the 'Grove' took root and sprouted amongst its branches, eventually becoming the sacred ground where sages study the Black Tide and pursue ultimate truth." His tone held a surprising amount of seriousness.
Phaethon immediately took an exaggerated step back, pointing a "horrified" finger at Phainon. "Hark! What demon art thou?! Quickly, disembody my brother who only knows how to fight and lacks common sense! Return him to me!"
"Hey! Phaethon!" Phainon's face fell instantly, grumbling with dissatisfaction. "Stop looking down on me! I asked around! The mentors here are supposedly very strict, with lots of rules! I'm just... doing a bit of preparatory work!"
"Oh?" Phaethon raised an eyebrow, leaning closer with a teasing smile. "Look at you, Phainon, such high awareness? Then... what else? Like, what are the different school s of the Grove? Any notable achievements?"
"Uh..." Phainon's face flushed red, and he stammered for a moment. "...That's it."
"That's... it?!" Phaethon facepalmed, sighed, and patted Phainon's shoulder firmly. "Alright, alright, still the same Phainon I know! Knowledge base remains consistently 'stable'!"
Nearby, Castorice covered her mouth with a light laugh, her amethyst eyes curving like crescent moons. "I've long heard of the Grove's fame, though I never imagined arriving in this manner. We barely spent a few days in the Holy City Okhema before Lady Aglaea 'dispatched' us here for study."
Her tone was light; she had clearly opened up a lot after getting familiar with the brothers. More importantly, she keenly realized that following these two would never leave her short of "material" for her story writing.
Just then, a figure at the end of the path waved energetically at them. "Over here! Over here!"
As they approached, they saw it was a girl with soft, short pink hair and pupils as verdant as spring leaves. A warm, sunny, and enthusiastic smile was spread across her face.
Her gaze, sharp as lightning, first landed precisely on Phaethon's right leg before she spoke with familiar ease: "Phainon-sweetie! Castorice-darling! And... hmm, this one needing special care, Phaethon-sweetie! Right? Lady Aglaea has entrusted you all to me!"
"I'll be your guide to familiarize you with the Grove! Ah!" She suddenly smacked her forehead, her smile brilliant. "I was so busy talking, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Hyacine, Head physician of the Twilight Courtyard and also a Teaching Assistant for the Nousporist School."
Her gaze turned to Phaethon, filled with professional confidence. "Phaethon-sweetie, leave your leg injury to me! Dealing with aftereffects is my specialty, whether it's physical pain and injury," she winked playfully, "or any potential psychological shadows left by certain... 'intense spars,' I have methods for both!"
This overwhelming enthusiasm was a bit much for Castorice, who was used to a cooler atmosphere.
Seeing Hyacine's outstretched hand, she instinctively twisted her own hands tightly behind her back, her small body shrinking back slightly, a flash of panic in her eyes.
"Hm?" Hyacine immediately noticed Castorice's nervousness. Instead of backing off, she took an even more enthusiastic step forward, her green eyes full of concern. "Castorice-darling? You look so tense, are you shy around strangers? Don't worry, everyone at the Grove is very friendly!" As she spoke, she very naturally moved to take Castorice's small, tightly clasped hands.
"No! Lady Hyacine!" Castorice, startled like a fawn, jerked her hands back behind her, exclaiming in alarm.
Almost simultaneously, Phaethon's figure flashed, placing himself in front of Castorice, gently but firmly blocking Hyacine's outstretched hand. "Miss Hyacine, please stop!"
Hyacine's hand halted mid-air, the enthusiasm on her face instantly replaced by astonishment. "Ah? I... Did I do something wrong?"
Castorice hung her head, her purple hair falling to cover half her face, her voice thick with dejection and apology. "No... It's not Lady Hyacine's fault. It's me... I am bound by the curse of Thanatos (the Death Titan)."
"Any living being that makes physical contact with me... will have their vitality ruthlessly drained. So... that's why I..." Her voice grew smaller and smaller, almost burying itself in her chest.
Hyacine was stunned, her face then filling with remorse and heartache. "Oh, heavens! I'm... I'm so sorry! Castorice-darling! I was too rash! I didn't know... I..." She floundered, explaining helplessly, wishing she could take back her previously outstretched hand and hide it away.
After some explanation and apology, the atmosphere finally eased. Hyacine took a deep breath, putting her warm smile back on, though this time with added caution.
"Alright, let's turn the page on that little episode! Now, let your enthusiastic guide officially show you new friends around our hall of wisdom—the Grove of Epiphany!"
She led the trio along the vibrant path deeper into the Grove, beginning her "guided tour" as they walked:
"The Grove gathers the finest intellects and thirst for knowledge from Amphoreus. It's primarily divided into seven Schools, representing seven different research directions, just like the seven main branches of a great tree!"
"First, the [Lotophagists School]!" Hyacine pointed towards an area where plants of various shapes, some emitting strange lights, grew. Many students were carefully tending to them or taking notes.
"They focus on the study of plants themselves and their derived products. From strange grains that can sate hunger to magical vine blossoms that can cure stubborn illnesses, it's all within their domain."
"Then, the [Caprists School]!" She pointed towards another area, from which faint, strange beast calls could be heard.
"They dedicate themselves to the research, protection, and propagation of rare and exotic beasts. Remember the little chimeras in Okhema's Garden of Life? Their existence owes much to the efforts of this School!"