The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 88: The Girl Under the Tree called zerith?

The dirt road stretched far ahead, lined with crooked ash trees that clawed the sky like they were trying to pluck down the clouds. Zen moved silently, the wind tugging at his black coat, the bracelet Diliya gave him brushing against his wrist with every step.

For a while, all was still. The chirping of birds. The rustle of breeze.

But then—

The wind stopped.

> [system: ...This is either a dramatic moment or a bad omen.]

Zen's steps slowed.

A shiver passed down his spine—not cold, but recognition. Like something unseen had called his name.

He reached for his sword instinctively.

Then he saw it.

A figure kneeling in the middle of the road.

Thin. Ragged. Skin so pale it looked leeched of life. The figure's hair was a mess of white strands—unnaturally white.

A child?

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Zen stepped closer. "Hey."

The figure twitched. Then slowly raised its head.

Its eyes were hollow.

No iris. Just white.

> [system: That's not a child. That's a corpse wearing curiosity.]

Zen's grip tightened.

Then the figure opened its mouth. Not to scream. Not to speak. But to sing.

A low, broken melody—like an echo from something ancient and wrong.

And the trees responded.

Their branches twisted. The bark rippled. From beneath the roots, skeletal hands burst from the soil—one, two, three, four—

Creatures with warped skulls and molten cracks across their bones began to rise.

Zen whispered, "Necrotide Scourge..."

> [system: ...Lovely. Undead with a flair for dramatics.]

He leapt back, dodging a skeletal claw aimed for his throat. "Analyze enemy."

> [system: Multiple targets. Class: Scourge-born. Corrupted Undead. Magic Resistance: Low. Strength: Medium. Count: Increasing. Advise: Eliminate the summoner.]

His eyes snapped to the kneeling figure.

Zen narrowed his eyes. "I'll make this quick."

He dashed forward—Skystep Cleave, slicing through the first wave of bones. The spectral child screamed now—not in fear, but fury—and shadows coiled around its form.

Zen grimaced. "Freeze Time."

> [system: Froze Time – Activated. Countdown: 3 seconds.]

Everything stopped.

Zen blurred forward, sword humming with frost. One strike—Silent End—straight across the figure's chest.

Time resumed.

The shadow burst like black glass.

The creature crumbled into ash.

The skeletons screeched... then collapsed, as if their strings had been cut.

All was still once more.

Zen lowered his blade, breath calm—but his eyes scanning the trees.

> [system: That... wasn't random.]

"No," Zen muttered. "Someone's TESTING me."

He sheathed his sword.

And for the first time in a while... he felt watched again.

But he didn't run.

He kept walking.

Toward the academy.

Toward the unknown....

---

They walked along the quiet trail, the air soft with the scent of wildflowers.

Then again a voice called out.

"Zerith?"

Zen stopped.

Like a blade dragged across old stone, the word cut through him—strange, sharp, and hauntingly familiar. His brows furrowed.

"...Zerith?"

> [System: Alert. Unknown trigger phrase detected. Repeating... Zerith. Zerith. Zerith EI'seren.]

Zen shook his head. "That's not my name. Is it?"

The girl beneath the tree looked up, golden hair catching the breeze. Her gaze pierced through him like she knew every heartbeat.

"You've forgotten," she said softly. "But you were never meant to."

His chest tightened. Forgotten? No. Lost. Stolen. Buried under fire and screams.

> [System: Warning. User emotional state unstable.]

"Stop..." he muttered. "Who are you?"

The girl stood, smile gentle and cruel all at once. "I came to return what was taken."

She stepped closer. Zen stepped back.

"No thanks," he said with a shaky grin. "I'm already dealing with enough mysterious women and cryptic nonsense in my life."

> [System: You do attract those, to be fair.]

She giggled. "You've always had that smile. Just like your mother."

Zen froze.

"...What did you say?"

The girl tilted her head, her voice barely above a whisper now.

"You don't remember Elara... or Arian either, do you?"

Zen's throat went dry. That name. Elara. A flicker of warmth and sorrow flashed across his mind—hands brushing through his hair, a lullaby in a language he didn't understand anymore.

He stepped forward. "Who are you?"

The girl turned her back to him and smiled softly over her shoulder. "You'll remember when the time is right, Zerith. Just don't run from it."

Wind swirled around her ankles, petals dancing upward like weightless sparks. And then—

She vanished.

No blink. No sound. Just... gone.

Zen stared at the space where she'd been, heart pounding like a war drum.

> [System: I vote ghost. Or illusion. Possibly ancient stalker ex. All equally terrifying.]

"...That name," Zen whispered, his voice barely audible. "Zerith..."

> [System: Identity confirmed: Matching royal lineage file... Access denied.]

"Denied?"

> [System: Yep.]

Zen turned, shadows stirring in his gaze. "Owh"

He took one last look at the path behind him... and began walking toward the Academy once more.