Lake Itezista was silent, but that silence was not ordinary. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath. The sun's rays melted over the water, and Sofia's medallion and bracelet shone in a gentle rhythm, like two hearts recognizing each other.
Dragoș bent down, touching his silver ring. A wave of cold, silver light rose from it.
— "Sofia… do you feel it too?"
— "Yes," she whispered. "It's like the forest is calling us again."
Suddenly, the surface of the lake became troubled. A circle of light formed in the middle, and from it rose a silver mist. The wind stopped. The leaves stopped rustling. The entire forest seemed to be looking towards that place.
A tall figure emerged from the mist. It was made of branches, leaves, and light. His face was neither old nor young – it seemed to be as old as the forest itself. His hair flowed like a river of green moss, and his eyes… his eyes burned softly, like two suns hidden under water. A cloak of steam and shining leaves fluttered around his shoulders, and his footsteps left trails of light in the wet grass.
Sofia was speechless.
— "Who are you?" she managed to whisper.
The voice that answered her seemed to come from everywhere — from the wind, from the earth, from the water.
— "I am Codrion, the Spirit who watches over the Itezista Forest. The one who saw the light born and the shadows grow. The forest is my body, and the rivers are my blood."
Dragoş took a step forward.
— "Are you the one who spoke to Miral?"
Codrion nodded slowly.
— "Yes. Miral was the chosen one of the Moon, the one who carried the secret of the balance between Light and Night. And you two," he said, looking at Sofia and Dragoş, "are the ones who must continue the path he began."
Sofia felt her chest burn.
— "Why us? I am only a child."
The spirit approached slowly, and the wind lifted her hair like a light breeze.
— "It is not age that brings strength, Sofia. But the heart. You carry within you the Sign of the Sun — the one that once illuminated the kingdom when shadows covered it. And you, Dragoş, carry the Sign of the Moon, its mirror. Together, you can open the Gate between Light and Shadow."
Alexandra looked around, amazed.
— "The Gate? Where is it?"
Codrion touched the surface of the lake with his transparent hand. The water opened like a broken mirror, revealing an image beneath—a huge tree, with a golden trunk and roots that reached deep into the earth. At its center, a symbol shone: half sun, half moon.
— "This is the Tree of Lights," Codrion said. "The heart of the forest. It connects all light—that of humans, that of shadows, and that of spirits. But its heart has weakened. Miral knew that one day the Light would have to be reborn. And that day is today."
Sofia took a step forward. Her medallion vibrated.
— "What do you want to do?"
Codrion stared at them.
— "I want you to learn to listen. The forest does not speak with your ears, but with your soul. Soon, a new sign will appear—and then you will know where to go. But be careful... light without blinding shadow."
Dragoș clenched his fist.
— "Does that mean Miral… knew about all this?"
— "Yes," Codrion said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "He knew that the time would come when the Light and the Moon would be one again. And he knew something else… before the balance was restored, a new ray of sunshine would be born."
Sofia looked up, puzzled.
— "A ray of sunshine?"
— "Yes," Codrion said. "Someone who has not yet come into the world, but has come into the world, will burn brighter than yours. He will be your brother, Sofia. But the road to him is long."
The spirit began to fade, and the light in the lake slowly faded.
— "The forest will guide you. Listen to its voice when the wind blows and the light trembles on the water. Then you will know that I am there."
Silence fell again. Codrion was gone. Only the lake still flickered slightly, as if it had preserved a living memory.
Dragoș approached Sofia.
— "Did you hear? A brother..."
Sofia smiled weakly.
— "Yes. But I don't know whether to be happy or afraid."
Alexandra looked into the distance.
— "I think it's the beginning of something bigger."
And, for a moment, the forest trembled again. The wind brought a barely audible whisper, like an old song:
"The light has been reborn, but it is not yet whole..."
Sofia looked at the sky and felt the medallion beating to the rhythm of her heart.
She didn't know it yet — but the step she had taken that evening would change the fate of the kingdom and the forest forever.