The water shimmered again, breaking the silence that had hung heavy between Isabella and Bubu.
"You knew."
Her whisper cracked. It wasn't loud, but it sliced through the stillness like a blade through silk.
The system didn't answer. Its light flickered once, then dimmed — as if unsure how to respond.
"Who are you speaking to, mortal?" one of the Lunareen asked. Her tone wasn't angry, only curious, her voice rippling through the water like a current. The other sisters turned, watching Isabella with soft, unblinking eyes that glowed faintly beneath the mist.
Isabella blinked, swallowing hard. "It's… nothing. Just—" she gestured vaguely toward Bubu's floating screen "—my… companion."
The lead Lunareen tilted her head, her movements slow and liquid. "I see no one but you."
And then, another voice — younger, lighter, almost sing-song — drifted up from the lagoon. "Why do you care what speaks to her, Sister? She carries life. Let her stay. She will bless our waters."
