Finding no abnormality only made it more suspicious. That was simply impossible.

“Maybe I’ll have an answer after circling one more time,” Himmel Soan said.

He examined their journey in the past week but couldn’t find any clue.

His memory might not be perfect, and he might have missed something. If he took another trip to the forest, maybe he would find things he had missed before.

By the looks of it, Firey didn’t want to take another step today.

Himmel Soan walked to a big tree, put an open palm on the trunk, and closed his eyes to sense it.

He then left a mark on it. If they really were walking in circles, he would see that mark again.

To make sure the mark wouldn’t be covered, Himmel Soan left some energy in it.

Here in the Dusk Soul Forest, leaving a mark alone wouldn’t be the smartest move, but it was the most effective one now.

He returned to Firey.

“Firey, it’s been two years since I took you out of the volcano and brought you here. It’s your second birthday today. We should celebrate it.”

Firey was confused.

Birthday?

She had heard about the Earthling’s tradition before. She knew what people were supposed to do on their birthdays, but she didn’t understand its meaning.

Therefore, she was dumbfounded.

“Celebrate my birthday? Master, you never celebrate your birthday.” Firey tried to understand it.

Himmel Soan didn’t know what to say.

Yes, he hadn’t celebrated his birthday since Gina disappeared. Otherwise, she always surprised him on his birthday.

With her gone, he wasn’t in the mood to celebrate birthdays anymore and even forgot when it was.

“I don’t need birthdays anymore. You’re still young, so you should celebrate it. I should give you a birthday present, but that’ll have to wait.

“You also get to make a birthday wish.

“Firey, do you have any wishes?”

Himmel Soan sounded a little helpless.

He wanted to celebrate Firey’s birthday at the spur of the moment, but when he thought about it, he hadn’t prepared anything.

What present could he give Firey?

Himmel Soan felt guilty for not being able to give her anything.

Although he proposed to celebrate her birthday, he had nothing for her—what a shame.

However, Firey was excited.

“That’s alright, Master. I’m happy to have you here. I don’t need any presents. I just want to stay by your side forever!

“I have birthday wishes. First of all, I hope you can find Gina as soon as possible.

“My second wish is that my master and his loved one can live happily ever after!”

Himmel Soan fell silent.

Those were the most basic requests and should have been easy to fulfill. Yet, he couldn’t make them happen now.

He couldn’t do anything until he found Gina.

After a long silence, Himmel Soan said, “You have my word.

“I’ll make your wishes come true.”

“Yes!” Firey nodded and beamed at him.

Her smile made Himmel Soan more determined.

Five minutes later, he said, “Let’s go. I want to know what this place is about.”

He and Firey had to leave the forest. But first, he had to stop walking in circles.

“Master, what’s going on?” Firey asked curiously.

“I don’t know. I have a couple of ideas, but I need some experimentation to see how it goes.”

Himmel Soan shook his head.

He had a bold idea, but it was so daring that he wasn’t sure at first.

If what he thought was correct, the entire Dusk Soul Forest would look like a chess board.

Who could have made such a grandiose plan?

The forest had been turned into a chess board!

“Let’s go!” said Himmel Soan.

They got up and headed north again.

The following day, they didn’t find anything abnormal.

“The mark I left is getting further and further away from us, so we’re indeed moving forward,” said Himmel Soan.

“I feel the same. But I also feel that we were here a week ago!” Firey said affirmatively.

She never doubted her instinct. She was certain that they had been here a week ago.

“You’re right.” Himmel Soan thought about it and nodded.

He didn’t realize it at first and had to check his memory to confirm it.

His strength really had dropped too much. How could he have missed that?

The other reason he didn’t notice it was that he had been focusing on the tree mark.

“That’s very important!

“At least we’re sure now that we were moving forward a week ago, but yesterday, we suddenly returned to the starting point.

“It means something happened yesterday, and we both missed it.

“Maybe the answer will come to us in six days,” said Himmel Soan.

Firey nodded.

He was only making speculations. They needed to keep walking to find out what would happen.

After exchanging a glance, they continued their journey to the north.

Nothing happened for the next three days, but Himmel Soan still stopped.

“Maybe I was wrong before. Maybe today… No, maybe this place will give us the answer!” said Himmel Soan.

Today was the fourth day since their previous break, but his mark suddenly became much closer.

That was why Himmel Soan stopped.