Dawn broke across the jagged peaks, sending slivers of light bouncing off every crystal in the valley. Lira tightened her cloak, feeling the familiar weight of her satchel filled with rare plants, seeds, and collected crystal fruits. Fluffy stretched and mewed softly from her shoulder, while Glint's translucent body shimmered nervously beneath the folds of her cloak.
Renkai scanned the path ahead. "The terrain gets trickier now. The spikes are taller, sharper. One wrong step…" He trailed off, letting the warning hang.
Lira nodded. "I know. We move slowly. Every step matters." Her hands brushed over a low, circular crystal tree. It hummed faintly, pulsing in harmony with her elemental senses. She made a quick note in her journal and plucked a few small crystal fruits, tasting them carefully. Salty, sweet, almost creamy in texture, but harder than before. She wondered if she could finally dissolve enough to make a proper juice.
