Shi Yan’s sudden awakening cause him to jolt. Shi Yin who was beside him got shocked. When she saw his face, she could not help but look down. Shi Yan’s facial expression was dark, causing Shi Yin to have a misunderstanding. She thought that he was displeased with her waking him up.

Shi Yan, who was still in deep thought did not notice Shi Yin’s anxious facial expression.

[Byakko said not to interfere. Interfere with what? How does he know what she's going to do?

Damn it! Damn it! If only I didn’t wake up so soon!!] He hit the floor with his fist in rage. Shi Yin who saw his actions was slowly retreating.

When he looked at Shi Yin’s fearful expression, he knew that he had startled her. Immediately, he no longer had that gloomy look on his face. Instead, he smiles, sat upright and welcomed her into his embrace. Shi Yin who saw this dashed forward and snuggled with him. She knew that Shi Yan had forgiven her once he forced a smile. It was his ‘I'm no angry’ look.

Shi Yan recalled his debt yesterday and kissed her multiple times. It was only till Shi Yin let out a weak struggle, that he willingly stopped. This sudden change of atmosphere was great for changing Shi Yan’s mood. Thankfully for him, he had Shi Yin at his side to release stress. He looked at the little fox with a gentle smile, thinking to himself. [You are really my most precious lucky star!]

Shi Yin did not make much noise. She was fully enjoying his embrace. Reina, who was asleep woke up due to their movement. She wanted to call out to Shi Yin, but after having a glance at her overjoyed expression, she decided to refrain.

It was only a moment later that Shi Yan felt his back ache with certain movements. He knew it was due to the award position he slept in. He hid the pain, not wanting Shi Yin to feel guilty about his condition.

Suddenly, the ground shook, causing both Shi Yan and Shi Yin looked towards the white door. It was opening. They immediately knew that the next test was starting.

Selene who was inside her enclosed world noticed a strange disturbance outside. She and Reina looked at the door but when they tried to move closer, they felt a strange force pushing them back. When she saw Shi Yan and Shi Yin stand up and walk towards the door, she could not help but ask “big brother, why can't I move forward like you?”.

Shi Yan turned around to face Selene. When he looked at her, he couldn't help but feel a panging sense of sadness. He had no time to explain to her, he felt that the door was urging him to get in. He gave her the warmest smile he could master, “don’t worry about us, we will see you soon. So wait for us alright?”. Both Shi Yan and Shi Yin took steps towards the door but they too suddenly felt strange for preventing them from proceeding. A voice rang out in both their ears; a low and deep voice, with little trace of emotions wrapped in it. “Are you sure you wish to continue with unfinished business?”

Shi Yan quickly looked around for the source of the voice but no one was there. Likewise, Shi Yin took a few steps closer to the boy and scanned around. Even with her perky peach coloured nose sniffing around, she found no trace of another being.

“Who are you?” Shi Yan asked with his eyes moving about restlessly. Selene and Reina, on the other hand, were both confused by Shi Yan and Shi Yin’s erratic movements. They were unable to hear the voice the pair heard.

**********************************

~Within Selene’s enclosed world

**********************************

Sena felt a sudden squeeze on her hand and awoke. She checked on her daughter to see a worried expression plaster onto her face. The mother tightened her grip on Selene’s hand and sat up crossed-legged, “Darling what's wrong?”

Selene opened her eyes and saw worry within her mother’s eyes, in a weak voice, she replied. “Mum... Something is wrong with big brother...”

“What happened?” Sena could not help but feel her heart race. [If something bad were to happen to that little boy, Selene, would you be okay? Your father had just passed away and like me, you're trying your very best not to grief. If something were to happen to the boy as well, would you be able to hold yourself together?]

“Mommy, big brother is moving strangely... He has a scary look on his face. Mommy, there’s something's wrong...” Selene said in a worried voice.

“Darling, no need to worry, let me out and I will make sure that the boy is safe. Alright?” Sena took both her hands to clasp onto Selene’s hand.

“Em.” Selene gave a nod and closed her eyes again. Soon, a portal opened up before Sena and she was brought out.

**********************

~Within the chamber

**********************

When Sena first stepped out of Selene’s mouth, she was confronted with a pulling force.

[What is this?!] Sena could not help but gasp in question as she was quickly pulled out from Selene’s mouth.

“Mommy!” watching her mother getting carried away by an invisible force made Selene cried out in worry. She tried to stretch out her branches to regained her mother but each branch seemed to be locked down. Selene struggled to free herself, crying out with tears, “Mommy! Mommy!”

*Mhmm! mmm!* Sena wished to speak but could feel a force keeping her mouth shut. Likewise, Shi Yan and Shi Yin who saw the scene also got caught in this strange force. The pair were placed together and forced into a corner of the chamber.

“It's pointless for any of you to struggle.” The deep voice echoed throughout the entire chamber. “I’m just here to take care of business,” the voice spoke without a hint of emotion as the space above the chamber seemed to warp. A figure, a little taller than Lumi but slimmer slowly fade from everyone’s sight. He was a man that looked younger than Lumi; his chin was cleanly shaved but the brown hair was in a mess. His exposed board chin, thick eyebrows and wide eyes gave him a dashing look. Likewise, the messy brown hair, wrinkled black overalls and emotionless voice made him seem nonchalant. However, his appearance seemed to be completely different from his disposition once he opened his mouth to speak, “woman, why do you continue to hesitate?”

Looking at the man that sternly stared at her, Sena slightly shivered. “whattt do you mean?”

“Do not play games with me. I’m asking you the question here.” The man raised his hand and a suddenly, a branch from Selene seemed slight bend, creating creeks. “Owww oww please stop!” Selene cried out as she felt a sharp pain spread out from the branch. However, the brave girl did not cry this time. Even as the skull-like face distort with pain, she grit her teeth and endured. The last thing she wished for was her mother to be worried.

“Stop!” Sena screamed as she felt a pang of pain in her heart when she saw her daughter in such a state. “I’ll do anything you wish for... just please... stop!”

The man slightly lowered his hand and the pain Selene experience was slightly alleviated. “So, speak.”

As the seconds go by, Sean's face darkened. [What are you talking about? What hesitation?] She dared not ask another question in case she future provoked this man. However, she also could not give a misleading answer. It was at this point that she heard the a familiar voice from the corner of the room. “Tell him... Tell him why you did not continue to force Selene.” The boy’s voice seemed unsteady,, as if he was struggling to speak.

Sena turned her head to face the man. Even when she got the answer in her heart, it was hard to be swayed by her words. “There is no rush...”

The man, as though he could read in between the lines, spoke with impatience. “Do you think that you have a lifetime left to live? Didn’t that fool told you that your lifespan has only been extended by a few more days?”

“I...” Sena seemed to have her tongue caught as she could not produce any answer.

The man looked towards the corner and with a flick of his finger, Shi Yan and Shi Yin flew to Sena’s side. The force binding Shi Yan had already turned his skin purple. The boy’s entire face seemed to be slightly pale as he was trying his best to catch every ounce of breath. Staring at the boy, Shi Yin could not help but be filled with grief. She would try to cry out to him but her whole snout was clamped down.

“Boy, what do you think?” the man finger’s moved in a circle and the invisible binding around Shi Yan loosened up. *haaaaa!* Shi Yan could finally took his first breath of fresh air. Although his mind was a little muddled from the lack of oxygen, he still could understand everything that was going on. [Bastard!] Shi Yan cursed as he knew that this man had no reason to place such tight restrains on him except for pure amusement or to exasperate him. Staring at the man with a ice cold piercing gaze, Shi Yang took a few seconds before being able to speak. “I believe that her hesitation is completely normal...”

“Do you really believe that?” the man seemed unconvinced by Shi Yan’s words. “then what would you do if I allowed you to choose their fate?”

Immediately, Sena’s vision quickly focused onto the boy as she felt a shiver down her spine. Meanwhile, Shi Yan and Shi Yin looked at the man with confusion. “What do you mean?” the boy asked.

The man seemed completely emotionless as he spoke, “tell me, if you would rather the corpse be buried and forgotten or be used?”

Shi Yan snickered in his heart. [If you put it that way, anyone would choose to use the corpse.] Shi Yan’s gaze moved towards the mother and daughter pair, who both looked at him with plea. [Don’t you wish for your daughter to absorb the corpse as well? Why are you looking at me with such a pained expression?]

Sena's eyes dulled with pain. Within Selene’s enclosed world, she had feigned sleep to not only create the rune within herself, but to think of a method to convince her daughter. However, no matter what she thought of, she still would return to square one. She well understood it. She did not wish for Selene to experience the cruelty of devouring her parent’s corpses. For such a gentle child that could not even bear to kill, how could Sena possibly expect her to accomplish this deed? No doubt, a scar would be placed within Selene’s heart if she were to have done the deed.

If Sena was to be capable of sleep, just what kind of face would she make? Anguish? Peace? With her daughter facing such a fate, she would feel guilty being able to sleep in peace. Likewise, if Selene saw the anguish on her face while she slept, wouldn’t that be horrible as well? She wished that she could take her daughter’s place but without a core, she couldn’t. Without her core, she was completely useless.

Now, watching a young boy, not older than ten, being forced to make her decision was simply devastating. [Am I so useless that this child has to make this decision for me?] Sena felt depressed. However, she well understood that without aid or external convincing, she would probably stay on the fence till her body rots.

“...” Shi Yan had a frown on his face as he continued to think. However, being an outsider, he should not be the one that decided such matters. [It doesn’t matter if I just ask... He might still allow it... It's still better than just deciding on my own... He won’t kill us right? I mean we are the participants and this isn't part of the test right?]

[...]

Shi Yan took a deep breath and asked, “can I discuss it with that Selene’s mother first?”

The right brow of the man raised as he asked, “What's the point of talking to a fickle woman like her? She could not even decide her own daughter’s fate.” The man turned towards Sena and continued to add insult to injury, “isn't that right?”

“Well... I...” Sena tried to speak for herself but could not bring herself to do so. She knew deep down, that everything the man had said was true.

The man then turned towards Shi Yan and continued, “see, she couldn’t even speak in defence. So, what's the point of you discussing it with her?”

Shi Yan took a moment to gather his thoughts. “then I'll talk to her. I'll convince her...”

“Then what about the will of the daughter? Doesn’t she need convincing?” the man snorts as his gaze lands on Selene. The gigantic black tree trembled once she saw the eyes of this man. Her roots instinctively tried to retreat but due to the invisible restraints, she was unable to.

“Please stop!” Sena cried out after seeing Selene frightened face.

The man’s gaze retreats back to Selene’s mother, “the Darkwoods are bearers of the fate to consume their own kind. What makes your daughter so special to be exempted from this?”

“...”

“Pathetic!” the man gave a cold snort towards the dark-faced Sena. He turned his attention back to the trembling Selene, “do you know the history of your race?” however, as though his words were inaudible, Selene could not manage out a reply.

With a flick of his fingers, the man brought Shi Yan and Shi Yin forward and placed them both next to the tree. He looked towards a corner and when his vision lands onto the little Tiger, curled his index finger. Reina, who was standing in a corner of the chamber got lifted up and pulled towards the other three. The man shouted, “all four of you will continue together.”

The man pushed his hand out and all the children were thrown into the door. They entered a white space and were bathed in white light. Their consciousness seemed to slip away as the last thing they heard was a thunderous roar, “the third trials shall begin!”