The Grove breathed around her, serene and familiar, yet alive with expectation. Lira knelt near the Great Tree, Fluffy rubbing against her legs, purring softly. The wind stirred through the leaves, carrying with it a deeper, almost musical resonance—one that vibrated directly in her chest.
"You've returned safely," the Great Tree's voice rumbled softly through the roots. "And yet, curiosity will not wait. There is a thread to be gathered… a living light that belongs to a world beyond our own. Bioluminescent life. It is fragile. It is wise. And it is needed here."
Lira's gaze lifted, determination brightening her features. "I understand. I'll be careful." She rose, brushing moss from her sleeves, Fluffy hopping onto her shoulder.
