The next morning, Kael returned to the forest. He told no one — not even Liora.The air was damp, heavy with dew, and every step felt louder than usual. He found the tree easily; the ribbon was gone, but the memory of the glowing shard stayed burned into his mind.
Kael crouched, pressing a hand to the earth where the shard had vanished.
"Why do I feel like you're watching me?" he murmured.
There was no answer. Of course there wasn't.
"Talking to trees now?"
Kael startled slightly, glancing back. Liora leaned against a trunk, smirking.
"You followed me," he said flatly.
"You left before sunrise," she shot back. "And you didn't take breakfast. I was either going to find you or bury you — so don't complain."
Kael exhaled slowly and turned back to the ground.
Liora crouched beside him. "So what's here? Don't tell me you lost the race so badly you're still looking for the ribbon."
Kael hesitated. "…You didn't see it."
"See what?"
He gestured to the roots. "There was light here yesterday. Like a piece of the sky had fallen into the ground. When I reached for it… it disappeared."
Liora tilted her head. "You're serious."
He nodded once.
For a long moment, she was silent, just staring at him. Then she sighed. "Of course. Of course my best friend isn't normal."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, I knew you were weird," she continued, standing. "But glowing forest spirits? Really?"
"It wasn't a spirit."
"Uh-huh. What was it, then?"
Kael didn't answer. He didn't know how.
Later, back in the village, Liora wouldn't stop talking.
"You know, maybe you should tell Elder Haren about this. Or… actually, no, don't. He'd just start chanting about divine trials again."
Kael looked up from sharpening his training sword. "Why are you so worried?"
"Because," Liora said, throwing her arms up, "you attract trouble like a magnet, Kael. If it wasn't a spirit, maybe it was a curse. Or a blessing. Or a curse disguised as a blessing! Either way, you're going to end up in the middle of something insane and drag the rest of us with you."
Kael gave her a rare, small smile. "Then you'd better keep up."
Liora groaned. "This is why my mother says you're a bad influence."
"She's not wrong."
Liora blinked — and then burst into laughter. "Did you just make a joke?"
Kael looked back down at the blade, hiding the faintest curve of his lips.
That night, Kael dreamed again.The forest was gone, replaced by an endless black void — but not empty. Shapes moved in the distance, impossibly tall, their steps rumbling like thunder. And somewhere above, a single star glowed red, watching him.
When he woke, his palms were warm — faintly glowing, just for a heartbeat before fading.
The next morning, he found Liora waiting outside his house.
"Okay," she said, crossing her arms. "I've decided. If you're going to chase weird glowing forest mysteries, I'm coming too."
Kael blinked. "You just called me cursed."
"Yeah, and if you're cursed, someone needs to keep you from dying stupidly," she replied. "You're welcome."
Kael stared at her for a long moment, then nodded once. "Fine."
"Fine?"
"Yes."
Liora frowned. "That was too easy. What are you plotting?"
"Nothing."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
And despite herself, Liora smiled — because for the first time, Kael didn't look like the quiet boy who carried the world alone.