The next morning dawned clear and bright, with the gemstone formations of Verdania casting rainbow prisms across our breakfast table. Stella had recovered completely from yesterday's adventure-induced exhaustion and was already planning out loud everything she wanted to see at our next destination.
"Prince Ian, do the caves really sing?" she asked for the fourth time, bouncing slightly in her chair as she worked her way through a plate of fruit that had been enhanced with subtle gem magic to taste impossibly fresh and sweet.
"They absolutely do," Ian confirmed patiently, his golden eyes bright with amusement. "Different caves produce different notes depending on their size and shape. When the wind is just right, they create harmonies that can be heard for miles."
"And flowers really bloom out of season because of the music?"
"That's what they say," Ian replied. "Magic and music have always been closely connected, especially here in the Southern continent."
