Back on Earth, life had returned to its quiet rhythm.
But for Aarohi, every day felt incomplete.
Weeks had passed since Arion disappeared through the portal.
Every night, she returned to the same place where they had first spoken beneath the moon — the old banyan tree on the hill.
The Lunar Crystal Arion had given her remained in her hand almost constantly.
She would sit under the tree and watch the sky for hours.
Sometimes she wondered if everything had been a dream.
But then she would remember the warmth of Arion's voice and the magical glow that surrounded him.
Those memories felt too real to be imagination.
One evening, as the full moon slowly rose into the sky, Aarohi felt the crystal in her hand suddenly grow warm.
She looked down in surprise.
The small crystal began glowing with a bright silver light.
Her heart began beating faster.
"Arion…" she whispered.
The wind around the hill began swirling gently. The leaves of the banyan tree rustled softly as if responding to the magic in the air.
Above her, the moonlight suddenly intensified.
A glowing line of silver light appeared across the sky.
Aarohi stood up, staring in amazement.
The line widened and slowly formed a shining portal.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Someone stepped through the light.