As night gave way to day, the first rays of sunlight began to pierce through the dense forest canopy, casting golden beams onto the leaf-covered ground. The darkness gradually surrendered to a palette of vivid and vibrant colors. The raindrops still clinging to the leaves sparkled like diamonds in the dawn light, creating a spectacle of glimmers and reflections.
The animals, awakening from their nightly rest, began to stir. The birds were the first to welcome the new day, their melodious songs filling the air and echoing through the forest. Their wings cut through the air as they flitted from branch to branch, greeting the rising sun.
The small rodents emerged from their hiding spots, sniffing the fresh, damp morning air in search of food. Their nimble little paws left tiny tracks in the soft soil. Squirrels darted through the trees, leaping between branches with agility and grace.
The sun's rays also reached the entrance of the cave where Payner and Évora were resting. The gentle light bathed the interior of the cave, warming the stones and creating a cozy atmosphere. The bear, which had fallen asleep beside them, stretched lazily, its movements slow and heavy as it awoke.
In the forest, deer emerged from the thick vegetation, their large, watchful eyes scanning the surroundings. They moved with elegance, seeking fresh grazing grounds. Butterflies began to flutter, their colorful wings dancing in the air in erratic patterns.
The sounds of the forest grew louder as more creatures joined the morning chorus. The nearby stream flowed with renewed vigor from the night's rain, its sound adding a soothing melody to the natural symphony.
Payner stood up, and Évora stretched, feeling her body slowly awaken. The bear, now fully awake, walked out of the cave toward a large puddle that had formed from the rain.
"Let's get going," said Payner, his voice calm and firm. Évora rose from the ground, oddly finding her clothes neither wet nor dirty.
"Let's go," she replied with a smile.
As they walked away from the cave, Évora bid farewell to the bear, giving it one last hug and a gentle pat.
"Where to next?" Évora asked curiously.
"How about we visit Lyria?" Payner suggested.
Évora's eyes lit up with excitement. "Let's do it! It's been so long since we last spoke to her."
Évora: "But we need to create a curtain or find one."
Payner: "It's easier to create one."
A black mist began to form around Payner, concentrating at a fixed point in the air. Slowly, a fissure opened, revealing a portal with a surreal appearance.
The portal seemed to be made of a material that was both liquid and gaseous, emanating an ethereal lightness. Its surface resembled a giant soap bubble, shimmering with an iridescent glow. Colors danced across its surface, constantly shifting with the light, creating a hypnotic display of shimmering hues.
The portal moved as if it were made of ocean waves, its gentle undulations reminiscent of the liquid flow of a serene current. The colors surrounding the portal followed these movements, forming patterns that seemed to dissolve and reform continuously, as if alive.
As light passed through the portal's surface, it created a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, reflecting shades of blue, green, purple, and gold. The colors floated and blended, like liquid paintings spread across the air, creating a dazzling and enchanting sight.
Payner and Évora gazed at the portal before them, its liquid undulations and vibrant colors mesmerizing them. With a deep breath, they stepped forward and passed through the shimmering surface. Immediately, they felt a sensation of falling, as if being sucked into a whirlwind of light and color.
As they fell, a vast forest stretched beneath their feet. Towering trees with thick green canopies formed a dense carpet of vegetation. The leaves glistened under the sunlight, reflecting a myriad of green and golden hues. This world pulsed with an ancient and mysterious energy.
In the skies above, majestic dragons flew with grace and power. Their enormous wings beat rhythmically, creating wind currents that rustled the treetops. Some dragons were immense, their scales gleaming like jewels, while others, smaller, exuded the same majesty. They circled in the air, their shadows crossing the forest like giant birds of prey.
Payner and Évora, accustomed to such sights, maintained a serene, almost familiar expression. The dragons, noticing their presence, greeted them with a formation flight, acknowledging them as natural inhabitants of this world.
As they approached the ground, even more impressive details of the forest emerged. Ancient trees with wide trunks and intertwined roots formed a labyrinth of vegetation, where various magical creatures peeked through the leaves. Centaurs raised their heads, nodding in respect, while fairies danced joyfully around the flowers.
Payner and Évora descended with an almost supernatural grace, their clothes flowing in the wind. The forest, with its peaceful creatures, seemed to welcome them naturally. A group of elves emerged from the trees, smiling and waving, recognizing them as old friends.
Suddenly, a giant plant on the ground opened up, as if awaiting their arrival. Its broad, soft petals gently enveloped them as they fell, providing a safe landing. The texture of the petals was smooth and comforting, like a protective cocoon.
The plant, though not carnivorous, briefly swallowed them, only to, in a swift motion, spit Payner and Évora back out. They were gently tossed onto the ground, safe and sound.
After fulfilling its purpose, the plant turned toward the sun, opening its wide petals to begin photosynthesis. The leaves glistened, reflecting the sunlight, and the surrounding environment seemed to harmonize with the scene, as if everything were part of a natural cycle of life and renewal.
Payner and Évora stood up, brushing the dust off their clothes and exchanging a look of mutual understanding.
A tall, imposing minotaur quickly approached and stopped beside them, saying excitedly, "Payner! Évora! It's been so long since we last had visitors like you, huh?"
Évora quickly stood up and said, "Hi, Kragor! We've been busy all this time, sorry for the delay."
Payner rose from the ground, "How long have we been away?"
Kragor: "Exactly 20 years."
Évora: "It wasn't that long."
Kragor: "And you, Payner? I see you haven't changed a bit in all these years, huh? Haha!"
Payner gave a confused look and said, "What do you mean by that?"
Évora (laughing): "Maybe he's talking about your preserved demeanor."
Kragor (nodding): "Exactly, but don't take it as a negative, Payner. It's good to know you haven't changed over the years."
Payner glanced around, noticing the presence of small creatures like rabbits and birds. "Are you alone here, Kragor?"
"No, no. I'm keeping Elara company."
Évora made a confused expression and tried to recall the name. "Elara... Elara? I don't know any Elara here."
Kragor replied: "Of course not. You've been gone for 20 years, after all. Haha! She's an elf, daughter of the Sylvaris family."
Payner asked: "And where is she now?"
Kragor looked around and noticed Elara hiding behind a tree, peeking at the three of them. "Elara, come here and greet Payner and Évora," he said, introducing the two.
Elara timidly approached the two, her hesitant gaze resting on Payner. He stared at her with a cold expression, though not a hostile one. A shiver ran through her body, and instinctively, she stepped back closer to Kragor, gripping his hand tightly.
Kragor let out a calm laugh. "Haha, it's okay, Elara. They won't bite you."
Évora raised an eyebrow and commented in a playful tone, "With Payner making that face, even I'd have my doubts."
Giving him a light nudge in the arm, she added, muttering, "Go on, talk to her." Payner sighed deeply, as if carrying an invisible weight, and replied, "I'll try." He approached the young elf, who remained withdrawn. Lowering himself to her eye level, he spoke in a gentler tone:
"Sorry if I scared you. My name is Payner, and that's my sister, Évora."
Évora waved cheerfully at the girl, her smile warm and sincere. Despite this, Elara remained silent, intrigued by the deer-like antlers adorning Payner's head. Her eyes examined every detail with curiosity, but her shyness kept her from asking any questions. Payner, noticing her hesitation, stood up and returned to Évora.
"Do you know where Lyria is now, Kragor? We wanted to talk to her," Payner asked, breaking the silence.
Kragor responded with a calm demeanor, "I was on my way to meet her after taking Elara back to her house. But I think I'll leave that task to you. It will be a good chance for you to get to know each other better, don't you think?"
Payner cast a brief glance at the child, still unsure if she would agree. Évora intervened encouragingly, "Great idea! What do you think, Elara? Would you like to take a walk to your house?" She extended a hand to the young elf, who hesitated for a moment, still pondering.
Kragor gently patted Elara's head. "It will be good for you to get to know them, Elara. They take great care of this place, and believe me, they'll take care of you too." After these words, Elara finally took Évora's hand, her eyes fixed on hers as if seeking some assurance.
"Do you still live in the forest, in the same area as Vallora?" Évora asked curiously.
"Yes, we're still there," Kragor confirmed as he moved toward the forest. Payner, noting his departure, asked, "Where can we find you and Lyria?"
"At the Lake of Dreams. We'll be waiting for you there," Kragor replied before disappearing among the trees.
As they walked along the trail, Évora led the way, holding Elara's hand firmly, with Payner close by. "Elara, do you mind if we take a slight detour? I'd like to visit a friend first," Évora asked.
The girl thought for a moment before responding, "I don't mind." Then her curiosity got the better of her: "What exactly are you two? Kragor always talks about you."
"We're siblings," Payner replied straightforwardly.
The girl's eyes lingered on Payner for a long moment. He felt the weight of her attentive gaze, as if she were studying him closely. Uncomfortable, he asked, "Is something wrong with my face?"
Elara quickly shook her head. "N-No, it's just that your energy is... very different from hers," she said, pointing to Évora.
"You can see energies? Like the spirits?" Évora asked, intrigued.
"I don't know if it's the same as what they see, but I can see it," Elara replied.
"What do you mean?" Payner asked, surprised. "I thought elves only had healing abilities."
"I thought so too," she said, "but my parents believe I was blessed by Thôdos."
"The goddess?" Évora raised her eyebrows, surprised.
Elara nodded with a slight smile. Payner pondered aloud, "I guess this aligns with the gifts she always talked about. But it's the first time I've met someone like this in all the millennia I've been alive."
"You met Thôdos?" Elara asked, shocked.
"Yes," Payner replied simply.
"You're very lucky... But how have you lived so long? You don't look like an elf or a spirit to last so many years," she insisted.
Payner remained silent, letting Évora answer: "To be honest, we don't know for sure. We don't exactly fit into any known race. So, it's hard to explain, but we've lived for a very long time."
Évora quickly changed the subject. "So, how do you see this energy?" Elara returned her gaze to Payner, narrowing her eyes as she focused.
"His energy is like..." she hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "Like a dark cloud around his antlers, pouring endless rain over him."
Évora shot a discreet glance at Payner and commented, "Rain? What an interesting way to interpret someone's spiritual energy."
Elara added, "I usually see colors and also feel sensations. Kragor's energy, for example, seems like rays of sunlight around him, radiating gentle warmth. But there are those who have no energy at all, like spirits and golems."
"Fascinating," Évora murmured, thoughtful.
She then asked, "And what does all this mean? This rain, for example, what does it say about Payner?"
He answered briefly, "I have a vague idea, but I'd rather not know."
Laughing, Évora teased, "You've always hated searching for meanings in things, haven't you?"
"It's not exactly that," Payner replied, "I just don't like to think that everything that makes me up needs to have some kind of meaning."
Évora accepted his perspective with a light laugh, and the three continued their walk, entering a forest clearing where the trees were sparse and the grass grew softly all around.