Morning sunlight filtered softly through the grove, brushing against the leaves with golden warmth. The air shimmered faintly with the lingering calm of her recent work — the potion of stillness, the frost crystal resting in a basin of flowing water, the harmonious hum of plants now infused with peace.
Lira moved slowly between the rows of herbs, brushing her fingers along the dew-wet leaves. Everything here breathed balance. Yet beneath that peace, her heart stirred with a quiet longing — a whisper that said there was still more to learn, more to protect.
Behind her, footsteps approached — soft, but full of energy.
Renkai stopped near her side, his eyes bright with purpose. "You've been in the grove too long," he said gently. "The world beyond might be changing, too. What if there are others out there, gifted like your students — but lost, unseen?"
