Having agreed to Viscount Calos's somewhat surprising request, Rober wasted no further time. He, along with the Viscount and his loyal butler, quickly prepared to venture into the dense western forest, where the fragile soul threads of the children led.

Rober remained in his usual attire the white linen shirt, dark brown canvas trousers, and grey tweed waistcoat. He carried no weapon, confident that his magical abilities were sufficient to handle common dangers. Besides, the main purpose of this trip was soul-searching, not combat.

In contrast, Viscount Calos and the butler were more thoroughly prepared. The butler, drawing on his experience as a former mercenary, wore a sabre at his hip a curved, sharp-bladed sword typically used by cavalry, but also effective in close combat for one accustomed to it. The black leather scabbard was worn, but the blade within was undoubtedly kept keenly honed. He moved with a nimble, steady gait, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings with vigilance, showing that his combat instincts remained deeply ingrained.

Viscount Calos was somewhat more awkward. He donned a thick cloak, perhaps to conceal the trembling of his body. In his hands, he clutched the latest model of revolver, a type using pre-loaded cartridges with a six-round rotating cylinder. However, the way he held the gun hands shaking, the barrel pointed unnaturally towards the ground indicated his unfamiliarity with firearms and suggested he felt more fear than confidence.

The three of them proceeded together towards the edge of the forest. Sunlight was obscured by the dense canopy of ancient trees, making the space dim and rather chilly. The musty smell of decaying leaves, damp earth, and the scent of various wild plants mingled, creating the characteristic aroma of an old forest.

After they had walked a short distance, Rober suddenly stopped and turned to the butler, asking:

"Sir, did you also drink that blue liquid?" He looked into the butler's eyes and noticed a subtle change, similar to the others in the search party.

The butler seemed slightly surprised by Rober's question, but then he nodded and replied:

"Yes, Mr. Rober. Before having it distributed to the others, I drank a small amount myself. It's a habit of mine, sir. I am naturally cautious and wish to avoid any mistakes, especially in a critical situation like this." 

He paused for a moment, then added with a slightly apologetic tone: "I... I hope you don't think I intended to doubt you. It's just..."

Rober smiled, cutting the butler off: 

"It's quite alright, sir. I understand completely. Your caution in these circumstances is entirely necessary and commendable."

He knew the butler testing the strange liquid first was a logical action and demonstrated his responsibility towards the men he had gathered. Rober felt no offense or suspicion. On the contrary, he felt a measure of respect for this loyal and careful butler.

They continued deeper into the forest. The surroundings grew quieter, leaving only the rustle of footsteps on the carpet of decaying leaves, the chirping of insects, and the soft sighs of Viscount Calos.

Rober noticed that Viscount Calos was becoming increasingly tense and frightened. He gripped the revolver tightly, his eyes darting constantly, peering nervously into dense bushes and gnarled tree trunks, as if fearing a monster might leap out at any moment.

Rober didn't want this tense and oppressive atmosphere to persist. He knew that fear and anxiety could impair judgment and action, especially in a dangerous environment like this forest. He decided to initiate conversation, to distract Viscount Calos and help him relax a little.

"My Lord Viscount" Rober said, his tone gentle and friendly "please try to relax a bit. We are together, and we will protect each other."

He paused briefly, then asked: 

"May I ask you and the butler something? Before this incident occurred, before your son fell into the 'white dream,' did either of you notice anything unusual, or have any particular impressions about the boy?"

Viscount Calos shook his head, replying:

"No... nothing at all. The boy was normal, healthy, playing like any other day. That day, after my wife and I returned from a party at a friend's house, we found him fast asleep, and we couldn't wake him up anymore." His voice was filled with anguish and despair.

Rober turned to look at the butler, awaiting his answer.

The butler frowned, thinking for a moment, then replied: 

"Mr. Rober, I'm not sure if it was unusual. But, one thing I did notice recently... was that the young master seemed very happy, very excited, because he had found some story to read. He liked the story very much and often recounted it to the other children in the village, the ones who usually came here to play with him."

Rober asked curiously "Do you know what the story was?"

The butler shook his head. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure, sir. I only overheard snippets when the young master told it to the children. It seemed... it was an old tale about a brave hero who fought a giant sea monster to rescue a beautiful princess who was imprisoned."

Rober frowned. A story about a hero, a sea monster, and a princess? Did it have any connection to this incident?

"Is that all you know?" Rober asked again, for confirmation.

"Yes, sir" the butler replied. 

"That's all I know. But I remember the young master read the story from an old piece of paper. He cherished that paper and always kept it very carefully. Perhaps, if we returned to the young master's room, we might find it."

Rober nodded, saying "Alright, we can deal with that later. For now, we must prioritize finding the children's souls. I'm not certain if that paper, or that story, is truly relevant to this matter anyway."

They continued deeper into the forest. The tree canopy grew thicker, blocking out almost all sunlight, making the space dimmer and colder.

Suddenly, Rober felt something strange underfoot. The ground, which had been dry, was now becoming damp and soft. He looked down and realized he was stepping onto muddy patches, and small puddles were forming on the ground.

"Mr. Butler" Rober asked "has it rained recently in this area? Or are there any rivers, streams, or lakes nearby?"

The butler shook his head, replying "No, Mr. Rober. It hasn't rained for several weeks. And there are no rivers, streams, or lakes in this forest. This is a dry forest, and there has never been flooding like this before."

Rober felt it was strange. If there was no rain and no nearby water source, why was the ground becoming so wet and flooded? The smell of dampness and mud also began to appear, growing stronger.

They continued forward, but the water level steadily rose. At first, it was just small puddles, ankle-deep. Then, the water rose to their calves, then their knees. Movement became much more difficult. The water was icy cold, and the clinging mud made each step heavy and slow.

"How bizarre!" the butler exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise and worry. 

"I've lived here for over forty years, entered this forest countless times, but never have I seen such strange flooding. What is happening?"

Rober also sensed something was wrong. He felt a strange energy radiating from this flooded area. A cold, dark energy.

He turned to the butler and said "Sir, please draw your sword and be ready. I have a feeling something isn't right."

He turned to Viscount Calos, saying "My Lord Viscount, please remain calm and stay close to us."

The butler, hearing Rober's warning, quickly drew his sabre from its sheath. The sharp, gleaming blade reflected the faint light filtering through the leaves.

Viscount Calos became even more frightened. He tremblingly raised the revolver, but his hand shook so much he couldn't keep the barrel steady.

They slowly waded deeper into the flooded area. The canopy above was now incredibly dense, blocking almost all sunlight. The place became dimmer, darker, and colder. Only the sound of splashing water underfoot, the chirping of insects, and the ragged, anxious breathing of the three men remained.

Suddenly, the butler, who was walking ahead, stopped abruptly, raising a hand to signal Rober and Viscount Calos to halt. He narrowed his eyes, peering forward, and then said, his voice trembling with astonishment:

"There... is that... a soul?"