The three girls stood bathed in the soft sunlight filtering through the towering trees, tears glistening in their eyes.
For the first time in centuries, the world felt whole again. The silence that stretched across the forest seemed like the earth itself was sighing in relief.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, mingling with the melodious calls of birds and the soothing murmur of a distant waterfall.
"We… we really did it, didn't we?" one of them whispered, her voice trembling, hands shaking with overwhelming emotion.
Another squeezed her friends' hands tightly, a gentle smile of hope reflecting in her eyes. "Yes… the world may never be the same, but we'll stay together… and we'll help protect it."
In that moment, their smiles shone brighter than the sunlight cascading over the treetops, as if the world itself returned the gesture with warmth and peace long forgotten.
Promise Beneath the
After that fleeting moment of joy, the world returned to calm, yet there was something they could not ignore — shadows in the forest. A soft whispering seemed to rustle through the leaves, as if something unseen was watching.
"We need to be careful," another voice warned, glancing around. The outward serenity concealed secrets they could not overlook.
One of the girls took a deep breath, sensing a strange energy swirling around them. "We restored the world… but something hasn't revealed itself yet."
The wind picked up, scattering dry leaves that formed a mysterious symbol at their feet.
"Whose mark is this?" she asked, her voice trembling, a mixture of fear and curiosity in her eyes.
"We might have to follow it… to uncover the truth hidden within this forest," another replied, her gaze firm and unwavering.
In that moment, beneath the towering trees, they swore to each other — they would not let any secret or shadow destroy what they had restored together.