They followed the luminous beings along the glowing stream until the sound of the waterfalls deepened into a steady, melodic vibration. The air shimmered, bending faintly, and the light became softer—almost golden now, as if the sun had found its way inside the island's heart.
At the center of the valley stood a formation unlike anything they'd seen before: a tall crystalline archway, floating slightly above the ground, its edges rippling like liquid glass. Beyond it, faint shapes moved—reflections, or perhaps memories.
The winged being who led them stopped and turned, its radiant eyes gentle. "This island remembers. It drifts through time as much as space. What you see now are echoes—pieces of what once was."
Lira stepped closer, drawn by the faint hum. Her Spirit shard pulsed in rhythm with the archway.
