In the realm of the spirits, Aria and Theo face the two luminescent figures. To their astonishment, the figures stepped out of the shadows, revealing their true identities.
They saw two figures walking towards them, smiling and waving. They recognized them from the pictures they had seen in their family albums. They were Seraphina, Aria's great-great-grandmother, and Emon, Theo's great-great-grandfather.
They were both Keepers of the Grove, who had lived and died in the service of the Grove. They had also been inseparable, sharing a bond that lasted beyond their lifetimes.
They greeted Aria and Theo with hugs and kisses, expressing their joy and pride in seeing them.
"Aria, Theo, we are so happy to see you," Seraphina said. "You have grown so much since we last saw you."
"We have been watching over you from the spirit realm," Emon said. "You have done so well in your quest to save the Grove."
Aria and Theo felt a surge of emotion as they met their ancestors. They felt a connection to them, a link that spanned generations.
"Seraphina, Emon, we are so glad to see you," Aria said. "You have been our inspiration and our guide."
"We have so many questions for you," Theo said. "About the Grove, the prophecy, our destiny."
Seraphina and Emon sat down on the bench and gestured for Aria and Theo to join them.
They smiled warmly and began to tell them their story.
"We were once like you, Aria and Theo," Seraphina said. "The children of light, that's what we were. We answered the call of the Whispering Grove and became its Keepers."
Emon nodded and continued. "We lived in a time of peace and harmony when the Grove was flourishing and the Malgarn was dormant. We loved the Grove and its spirits, and they loved us back."
Seraphina looked at Emon with affection and added, "We were best friends. We met when we were young, and we felt an instant kinship. We shared the same passion for adventure and discovery, the same curiosity for the Grove's secrets and wonders, and the same loyalty to our duty and destiny."
Emon smiled back at her and said, "We were two halves of a whole, two fates entwined in destiny's quaintness."
Aria and Theo looked at each other with a spark of recognition. They felt a similarity between their ancestors' story and their own.
"You sound like us," Aria said.
"You really do," Theo agreed.
Seraphina and Emon nodded and chuckled.
"Yes, we do," Seraphina said. "And that's not a coincidence. It's part of your destiny."
Emon continued. "You must find the prophecy—the prophecy that foretells the fate of the Grove and the world."
Aria and Theo leaned forward with interest and anticipation.
"What does it say?" Aria asked.
Emon answered. "It says that in the darkest hour, when the Grove is on the brink of destruction, when the Malgarn is about to rise from its slumber, when the dark triumvirate is about to unleash their final assault, there will be a chosen one, a child of light, who will wield the power to save or doom the Grove."
Seraphina added. "But it also says that there is another prophecy, the one that is hidden and foretells the dark fate of the Grove. It says that to find it, you must trust the whispers of the wind and the tree, for they will show you the way."
Aria and Theo felt a mix of awe and fear as they heard their ancestors' words. They wondered what the hidden prophecy was and what it meant for them.
"How do you know all this?" Theo asked.
Seraphina replied."We learned it from the Warden of Forgotten Lore, the oldest and wisest of the spirits. He was our mentor and our friend. He taught us everything we know about the Grove and its history."
Emon continued. "He also told us about the Malgarn, its origin, nature, power, and threat. He told us that it was more than a creature, that it was a force of darkness and chaos that transcended the physical realm. He told us that it was a manifestation of the Grove's corruption that fed on its essence. He told us that it was a will of destruction that sought to end all existence."
"That sounds terrifying," Aria said.
"It was," Emon said. "And it still is. The Malgarn is the enemy of the Grove and of all that lives."
Seraphina went on. "He also told us about the dark triumvirate, their identities and motives, and their plans and schemes. He told us that they were Zalgaroth, Necronus, and Malaxar—the Shadowbinder, the Sorcerer of Veiled Curses, and the Silent Shade."
"We know them," Aria said. "They attacked us last night."
"They did?" Seraphina asked with concern. "Are you alright?"
"We're fine now," Aria said. "Thanks to Yavanna. She saved us."
"Yavanna?" Emon asked with surprise. "The spirit of life?"
"Yes," Theo said. "She's our guide and our friend. She's helping us find the hidden part of the prophecy."
"That's wonderful," Seraphina said with joy. "Yavanna is a powerful ally. She was our guide too."
Emon agreed."She helped us through many trials and tribulations. She showed us many secrets and wonders. She gave us many gifts and blessings."
Seraphina sighed as she remembered something else Yavanna had given them.
"She also gave us a warning," she said softly. "A warning about the dangers that awaited us, the trials that we would face, and the choices that we would make."
Aria asked with curiosity.
"What kind of dangers? What kind of trials? What kind of choices?"
Seraphina looked at Emon as they exchanged a meaningful glance.
"Dangers that would test our courage and faith; trials that would challenge our skills and talents; choices that would shape our destiny and fate," Emon said.
"Dangers like enemies and traps; trials like puzzles and riddles; choices like life or death," Seraphina said.
"Choices between light and shadow," Emon said.
Aria and Theo felt a shiver run down their spines as they heard their ancestors' words. They wondered what kind of choices they would have to make and what the consequences would be.
"Light and shadow?" Aria asked.
Seraphina nodded and explained. "The prophecy has two faces, like the moon. One face is light, and the other is shadow. One face is hope; the other is despair. One face is salvation, the other is doom."
Emon continued. "You and us are the children of light. We have the power to save the Grove, to restore its balance and harmony, to heal its wounds and scars, to bring back its glory and beauty."
Seraphina said. "But we also have the power to doom the Grove, to tip its balance and harmony, to inflict its wounds and scars, to destroy its glory and beauty."
Emon said. "The choice is yours."
Seraphina said. "The choice is not easy. The choice is not clear. The choice is not obvious."
Emon said. "The choice is hard. The choice is complex. The choice is hidden."
Seraphina said. "The choice is only yours to make. Trust yourself. Trust your bond...And you'll succeed."
Aria and Theo felt a weight on their shoulders as they realized the magnitude of their responsibility. They wondered how they would make the right choice and what it would entail.
"How do we make the right choice?" Theo asked.
Seraphina smiled gently and said, "There is no right or wrong choice. When the time comes, you'll know."
Emon added. "Remember! Your choice depends on many factors. On your values and beliefs, on your feelings and thoughts, on your actions and consequences."
Seraphina said. "And on your allies and friends, on your enemies and foes, on your mentors and guides."
Emon said. "And on yourselves. On who you are and who you want to be, on what you can do and what you want to do, on what you must do and what you will do."
Seraphina said. "You have everything you need to make that faithful choice. You have each other. You have Yavanna. You have us."
Emon said. "And most importantly, you have yourselves. You are amazing, Aria and Theo. You are brave and smart, compassionate and creative, adventurous and determined."
Seraphina said. "You are beautiful inside and out. You are our hope. You are our pride. You are our love."
They hugged Aria and Theo tightly, expressing their love and support for them. They looked into their eyes with sincerity and admiration.
"We believe in you, Aria, and Theo," Seraphina said. "We know you can do this. We know you can save the Grove."
"We trust you, Aria and Theo," Emon said. "We know you will do this. We know you will shape your destiny."
They kissed their foreheads and whispered in their ears.
"Remember who you are and what you must do," Seraphina said.
"Remember what you can do and what you will do," Emon said.
They looked into their eyes and smiled.
"Remember that we love you," they said in unison.
They faded into the light, leaving behind a trail of warmth and peace.
Aria and Theo felt a jolt of pain as they opened their eyes. They found themselves lying on the ground, surrounded by Yavanna and the Grove's spirits. They felt relief as they realized that they were alive.
They also felt a sense of determination as they remembered their ancestors' words.
They looked at each other and nodded.
They knew what they had to do.
They had to find the prophecy.
They had to save the Grove.