Chapter: Arrival at the Misted Marshes
When Lira emerged, the world had changed. Mist curled thickly around ancient reeds and twisted willow trees, and water glimmered with a silver sheen beneath the diffused light. The air smelled of peat, rain, and hidden magic. Strange reeds swayed as if alive, and faint ripples hinted at creatures lurking beneath the surface.
Renkai sniffed the damp air. "Magic here is old," he murmured. "Careful… it's protective, not aggressive—but it will test us."
The trio moved cautiously. Lira observed the flora: reeds that whispered when touched, flowers that retracted quickly like shy spirits, and faint glimmers in the water that might have been fish—or something else entirely.
Hours passed. The marsh seemed to stretch endlessly, fog thickening as the day waned. Finally, a low, rumbling vibration reached Lira's senses, almost like the heartbeat of the land itself. She instinctively lowered her staff.
