The book in her hands pulsed faintly, golden lines shifting across the map. New trails appeared—some bright, others dim, fading like dying stars. It showed not only where the creatures hid but where the shadows had spread.
Lira traced the lines with her fingertip, her expression solemn. "These lights… they're souls, aren't they? The ones still surviving."
Thalanir's eyes widened slightly. "Then we must move fast. If they fade…"
"They'll be gone forever," Lira finished quietly.
Serelyth's wings tightened against her back. "Then our next path is clear."
Lira nodded, closing the book and holding it close to her chest. "The Grove will be their refuge. The portals will protect them. No shadow, no hunter, no greed will breach that barrier again. We'll bring them home, every last one we can find."
The wind rose suddenly, scattering golden leaves in a slow spiral around her. The faint echo of the Giant Tree's voice seemed to drift through the air like a blessing.
