That evening, the villagers gathered for a prayer circle, a ritual Naya explained was meant to honor the land. They formed a ring around the newly planted plot, their voices rising in a chant that blended Murim melodies with the cadence of Indian prayers. Arin joined them, his hands clasped, the mantra "Om Bhumi Namah" blending with their song. The qi in the soil pulsed in response, a gentle rhythm that matched their voices, and Arin felt a connection to these people, a shared hope that transcended worlds.
As the chant faded, Arin felt a sudden pull, a surge of qi that drew his gaze to the sky. The silhouette of the Eternal Seed appeared, its glow brighter now, pulsing with a rhythm that matched the land's heartbeat. Images flashed through his mind—a lush valley, fields of glowing crops, a seed descending from the heavens, its light banishing the darkness. A voice, the same one from his transmigration, whispered, "The cycle begins anew." Arin blinked, the vision fading, but the weight of it lingered, a mystery tied to the valley's past and his own destiny.
He turned to Naya, his voice low. "The Eternal Seed," he said. "It's connected to this land, isn't it?" Naya's eyes widened, her hand tightening on her staff. "My mother wrote of it," she said. "A seed of creation, lost to time. If it's showing itself to you…" She trailed off, her expression a mix of awe and fear. Arin nodded, the journal heavy in his hands. The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain: the land had chosen him, and he would see it through.
The villagers dispersed, their faces a mix of hope and uncertainty, and Arin returned to the field, the stars above mirroring the qi sparks in the soil. Naya stayed by his side, her presence a steady anchor. "You've planted more than seeds today," she said, her voice soft. "You've planted trust." Arin smiled, the weight of her words settling into him. The valley was still wounded, the Iron Fang still a threat, but for the first time, he felt the stirrings of a harvest—not just of crops, but of community, of hope, of something new.