"Why?" Professor David whispered.
Merek didn't turn to face him, his voice quiet but resolute. "At level 20, you stop leveling through essence alone. From then on, you must meet certain conditions to ascend. Entering that forest…" he glanced toward the distant white glow through the trees "might be the only way I can fulfill that requirement. I'll return once I'm done."
"What if you die?" David asked, his voice sharp with desperation.
"I won't." Merek's reply came like steel, short and final. He didn't need to convince anyone. He just needed to survive.
A moment of silence passed, then Nero stepped forward, his voice cutting through the still night. "Let's stay here."
The group, which had once numbered 102, now stood at 97, 98 if Professor David was counted, and a full hundred if Felicity, Tevin, and Merek were included.
