The journey back down the stream was a completely different experience. The water was now crystal clear, babbling cheerfully. Yanaki could see small, silver-scaled fish darting about, the first creatures to return after the corruption was cleansed. The rocks along the bank were clean, and new green moss was beginning to spread, blanketing them in a color of life.
Sylva walked beside Yanaki, its green eyes looking at everything with curiosity. Occasionally, it would bend down to touch the cool water or gently feel a newly sprouted bush. To a newly reborn spirit, this entire world was new and full of wonder. Whenever the moonlight shone upon it, its body would absorb a little light, and Yanaki could feel its life force gradually growing stronger.
Elara floated behind, quieter than usual. But this silence was no longer heavy with sorrow. It was one of peace. Her form had stabilized significantly, no longer so faint as to be nearly transparent. The pure energy of the stream was nurturing her.
As they drew near, the sight of the Willow of Memories appeared, and Yanaki had to hold her breath in astonishment.
The tree was no longer dead.
The once-grey, cracked trunk now had a healthy, dark brown color. And on the branches that had been like dry bones, hundreds, thousands of verdant green buds were sprouting. It had no leaves yet, but the powerful life force coursing within it was unmistakable. The Willow of Memories had been revived.
Elara was nearly in tears. She flew forward, her ethereal hand trembling as she touched the trunk.
In that instant, as if responding to its former master, the entire willow tree shuddered gently. One of the softest new branches slowly lowered itself. From its tip, a single willow leaf, not green, but a shimmering silver like moonlight, gently detached itself and floated down, landing in Elara's waiting palm.
[The spirit of the Willow of Memories has sensed Elara's presence and bestowed upon her a gift.]
[Side Quest: [The Pieces of Alia] has been updated!]
[You have found the [Leaf of Memory]. A part of Elara's memory of her daughter has been restored.]
Elara stared at the silver leaf. A warm, unprecedentedly clear memory flooded Yanaki's mind. It was the image of a beautiful, sunny day. Elara was sitting under the shade of the leafy willow, her hands skillfully weaving silver leaves just like this one into a small coronet. And little Alia was running around, giggling, waiting for her mother's gift.
This happy memory seemed to be the most potent medicine. Elara's form became much more solid. And for the first time, she was able to form a structured thought, a single word, and send it to Yanaki.
"...Thank... you..."
The voice in her mind was still faint and halting, but it was there. Yanaki smiled, a genuinely relieved smile. All her efforts had been rewarded.
But their precious moment of peace was quickly shattered.
"Hey! Who are you people over there?"
A gruff voice boomed. From the other side of the creek bed, three figures appeared. Yanaki immediately recognized them: the axe-wielding Warrior, the red-robed Mage, and the nervous Rogue. They looked tired and irritable; perhaps their trip to the citadel hadn't gone as planned.
The Warrior's gaze was fixed on the sprouting willow tree, then it shifted to her party of three.
"'This tree was bone-dry a minute ago," he growled, striding across the shallow stream. "What did you do? Did you find some rare item here? A little girl, a ghost, and a walking tree? Looks suspicious as hell."
He raised his battle-axe, a clear threat. The Mage and the Rogue followed, forming a pincer formation.
Yanaki instinctively took a step back, her hand gripping her dagger. She was only Level 3; confronting a party of three was obviously a bad idea.
But this time, she was not alone.
Without needing a command from Yanaki, Sylva acted. The reborn protector took a step forward, planting himself directly in front of Yanaki. He crouched down, his toes gripping the earth like roots. His small wooden buckler was raised, and his green eyes stared directly at the Warrior, without a trace of fear.
A true protector.
Her party's first confrontation, not with the monsters of Erathos, but with the greed and suspicion of other players, was about to begin.