Chapter 21 : Return to the Heart of Silence
Tian Heng cast one final glance at the glittering cave—the source of potential power and the site of his costly recent victory—before turning and beginning the journey back toward the Vault's central hall. Lilith followed as always, a silent shadow. Her footsteps were light and quiet on the stone floor, yet her presence was felt like a faint pressure in the aether-saturated air.
The journey back was different. No longer a venture into the unknown, it was a calculated return to a familiar starting point. His slightly increased familiarity and improved agility as an "Aether Gatherer" allowed him to move faster and with more confidence, though the ache of his side wound was a constant reminder of the price he had paid.
They passed the three obstacles in reverse order. The wide, unstable third collapse was crossed with the same extreme caution, though Lilith gave no further warnings this time. The narrow side passage beyond the second blockage felt less suffocating on the way back—perhaps due to familiarity, or simply the knowledge that it led to a broader corridor. No strange markings or unusual energy fluctuations appeared this time. The first partial collapse was bypassed with ease.
During the journey, Tian Heng remained alert, his senses sharpened. He noticed details he'd missed before—different types of tiny crystal formations fused into the rock, remnants of thick severed cables scorched into some walls, signs of ancient water erosion hinting at forgotten underground flows. Each observation was stored in his mind, building his growing understanding of this strange environment.
Lilith spoke little, but occasionally nodded toward a dark side tunnel and murmured in her deep voice: "Empty... nothing there but cold silence." Or, "Echo of old pain... do not approach." She was mapping the surrounding area for him, using senses that likely went beyond sight and hearing. Tian Heng listened, memorizing everything, but offered no comment.
As time passed, hunger and thirst began to weigh on him more urgently—reminding him of the main reason for this return. His meager supplies of mushrooms and water had been completely exhausted during his training and the battle in the cave.
Finally, after what he estimated to be two hours of walking, the faint blue glow of the main hall appeared at the end of the tunnel. They emerged from the narrow southern passage into the relatively wide space that had become his makeshift "home." The low hum of the central Core—almost forgotten in the energy-rich cave—greeted him like a familiar and steady voice.
Tian Heng did not pause to rest. His top priority was to replenish basic resources. He went straight to the small cave where he had previously discovered the dripping water source. He drank slowly until fully satisfied, then spent time refilling his makeshift metal container. Lilith followed silently, standing at the entrance of the water cave, watching without intervening.
Next came the less pleasant task: collecting the pale mushrooms from the damp walls of a nearby passage. He gathered enough to last several days, and ate a few immediately to quell the hunger pangs, ignoring their bitter, earthy taste. The contrast was stark between the sensory abundance of the aether cave and the bleak subsistence here.
Once his basic needs were secured, he approached the central platform and interfaced with the Core.
[Core, status report. Energy levels? Any alerts during my absence?]
The reply came, monotonous as ever:
[Current energy level: 8.1%. Stability within acceptable bounds. No critical system alerts recorded. Unusual aetheric activity and minor structural fluctuation logged in southern sector (related to guardian combat and collapses). Monitoring recommended.]
Stable. That was good. Tian Heng moved to his usual corner near the platform, where he had left some of his few belongings. He pulled out the tools he'd salvaged from the guardian and placed them beside the three precious data panels. These were his true treasures for now.
It was time to plan the next phase.
Recovery: His wound needed time to fully heal. The aether environment here was far weaker, so recovery would be slower. He needed to balance rest with light training to accelerate the process.
Data Study: He had to deeply analyze the partial schematic of the "Prototype Aether Condenser" and the fragments of "Regulation Node" repair logs he had accessed earlier. Knowledge was his next key.
Continued Training: He couldn't stop practicing the "Aetheric Breathing Technique," even if progress here was slower. Every bit of additional strength mattered.
Crafting/Repair: Based on his studies, he would decide whether to begin constructing the condenser with the materials on hand, or to focus first on understanding the requirements for repairing the node.
Tian Heng sat down and closed his eyes, summoning the image of the condenser's partial schematic in his mind. The wheels of his analytical mind began to turn—breaking down the problem, assessing the resources, and searching for optimal solutions within his current limitations.