The silver surface of the pocket mirror at the base of the Giant Tree rippled once more, and the hum of magic thickened in the grove.
"Step carefully," the Giant Tree rumbled, its voice deep and amused. "This is not just observation. You will go to the past and learn directly. Watch. Repeat. Absorb. But remember — you are only learning, not changing."
Lira nodded, heart steady. She placed her hands on the mirror, feeling it pulse against her palms. The air thickened, shimmered, and then bent around her. With a breath, she stepped forward — and the grove shifted.
She now stood in the same grove, yet it looked different. The trees were older, more massive, and the mist clung low to the ground, curling around thick roots. Colors were brighter, shadows longer. The energy here was sharper, almost tangible, buzzing in the air. She could sense the life and magic flowing differently, stronger, more raw.
