Inside the realm, Cael and Junior had been walking for what felt like an eternity.
The forest stretched endlessly before them. The same ancient trees. The same still water channels. The same unmoving sun hung in the sky.
Nothing changed. Nothing shifted. It was as if the realm itself was testing their patience.
But Cael had noticed something strange.
No matter how long they walked toward the two mountains in the distance, the distance never seemed to decrease.
The mountains remained at the same spot, unmoving, unreachable. It was as if they were walking in place, trapped in an endless loop.
Cael stopped and stared at the mountains.
He closed his eyes and focused. He activated Mana Sovereignty, letting his senses spread across the land. He felt the mana around him, the flow of energy, the rhythm of the realm.
And then he noticed something.
