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The staircase wound down deeper than they expected, carved not by mortal hands but by shifting roots and old magic. The air was thick—damp, earthy, and ancient. Runes shimmered along the walls, softly pulsing like veins of light.
Elira moved slowly, one hand tracing the symbols. Her eyes were distant. "These were made by spirit-binders… long before any kingdom was founded. They used this place to commune with primal forces."
Lumi glanced at her sideways. "You say that like it's a good thing. I've seen what 'primal' forces do to the average adventurer."
Brann, holding a torch, muttered, "Usually ends with screaming and skeletal curses."
"And unpaid bounties," Kael added. "Which is the real tragedy."
Sieris, walking ahead, halted suddenly. "Quiet."
Everyone froze.
From the end of the tunnel, a dull glow radiated. As they stepped into the chamber beyond, they saw a massive underground root system—like the heart of the forest itself. At its center floated a shard of crystal, suspended by tendrils of mana. It pulsed with a gentle, almost sorrowful rhythm.
"What is that?" Lumi whispered.
Elira stepped forward, entranced. "A Spiritheart Shard… a fragment of the forest's soul."
"No offense," Brann said, "but shouldn't that *not* be glowing like it's about to explode?"
Kael eyed the shard. "Or scream. It looks like it's about to scream."
"I feel it too," Lumi murmured. "Something's wrong with it."
Sieris tilted her head, sword ready. "It's been tainted. Corrupted by something… deeper."
Elira knelt, placing both hands on the stone floor. "Let me speak to it."
"You what?" Lumi blinked. "You're going to talk to a magic rock?"
"It's not a rock," Elira said firmly. "It's a voice that's been waiting too long to be heard."
Lumi stared, then shook her head. "If it starts singing or offering you candy, I'm leaving."
Elira closed her eyes, letting her spirit energy flow into the room. Threads of silver and green light spun from her hands and reached toward the shard. At first, there was resistance. Then—a tremble.
A soft voice whispered across the chamber, echoing in every mind: **"Why… did you return?"**
Kael gripped his blades. "Okay, that's it. Creepy shard is haunted."
"I didn't come to harm you," Elira whispered aloud. "I came to help."
The light brightened—and then flared. A shockwave knocked them all back. The roots thrashed. The shard pulsed again, and from the shadows emerged something grotesque—**a Hollowborn Rootling**, warped with spirit corruption and twisted wood.
It let out a shriek like splintering trees.
"Guess we woke up the angry cousin," Lumi growled, flipping to her feet.
The Rootling charged, limbs like jagged spears. Sieris met it first, her blade deflecting a swipe that gouged the floor.
Kael lunged, striking low. "Its underbelly! That's the soft spot!"
"Why is it *always* the underbelly?" Brann shouted, loosing bolt after bolt.
Lumi leapt high, blades glowing faintly with wind-elemental runes. "Cover me!"
Elira's voice rang out from behind them. "I can suppress the corruption—keep it distracted!"
Green light burst from her hands, binding the creature briefly in spirit tendrils. It thrashed, roaring, as Lumi landed on its back and drove her blades into the exposed root-nerve at its base. The creature convulsed—then let out one final screech before collapsing into darkened bark and dust.
Panting, Lumi rolled off. "That's one way to trim a tree."
"You alright?" Elira called, rushing to her.
"Yeah," Lumi replied, wiping sweat from her brow. "Just not a fan of murderous plant life."
Kael offered her a hand. "At least it wasn't singing."
"Yet," Brann said grimly.
As the dust settled, the Spiritheart Shard pulsed once more—this time calmly. The corruption lifted, and the runes in the chamber glowed in harmony again.
Elira stood slowly. "It's safe now. But that was just a fragment… the deeper corruption still lingers in the forest's roots."
Sieris looked toward the tunnel ahead. "Then we follow the rot to its source."
Lumi exchanged a glance with Elira, then looked away. *She's changing… growing more powerful. It's scary how natural this feels for her.*
Elira glanced at Lumi too. *Even with all her sarcasm… she doesn't hesitate to protect me. Why do I feel safer when she's nearby?*
Above them, faint vibrations trembled through the roots.
Something else had noticed the battle.
And it was beginning to stir.
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