The first day on the road took Ren and Hana through rolling meadows dotted with glowing wildflowers. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and something sweet they couldn't identify. Their star crystals cast a soft blue glow at their waists, steady and calm, no corrupted creatures nearby yet.
"This is beautiful," Hana said, pausing to run her fingers over a flower with petals like spun glass. "But it makes me miss home even more sometimes. I keep thinking about the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, how they only last for a couple of weeks each year."
Ren sat down on a smooth rock beside the path, patting the spot next to him. "I know. I miss the sound of the train passing by our apartment, and the way your mom always leaves extra food for us when we visit."
He pulled out a small piece of bread from their pack and broke it in half, handing one to Hana. "But maybe… maybe we can bring something back from here, too. Imagine if we could grow these glowing flowers in our garden someday."
Hana smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder as they ate. "I'd like that. A little piece of Aetheria in Tokyo."
As they stood to continue, the star crystals in their pouches flickered, growing brighter for a moment before dimming again.
"Something's close," Ren said, his hand moving instinctively to Hana's arm.
They moved carefully through the next stretch of meadow, where the grass grew taller and the path narrowed. Around a bend, they found a young woman with curly brown hair, leaning against a tree and clutching her side, her clothes were torn, and a dark bruise spread across her cheek.
"Hey, are you okay?" Hana called out, rushing forward despite Ren's quiet caution.
The woman looked up, her green eyes wide with relief. "Please… I was heading to the temple when I ran into a corrupted boar. I managed to get away, but I'm hurt pretty bad."
Ren helped her sit down gently while Hana examined her wound. "I can try to use my power to help," Hana said, holding her hand over the woman's side. The golden glow from before emerged, warm and gentle, and the bruise began to fade.
The woman watched in awe as the pain left her face. "You're the bearer of the Ancient God Body, aren't you? Lyra told us to watch for you, my name's Elara. I'm a healer from the village of Silverleaf, just a day's walk from here."
"Silverleaf?" Ren asked. "Is it on the way to the Whispering Mountains?"
"It is," Elara said, standing up and testing her leg. "And you'd be wise to stop there. The path through the mountains is dangerous, our village knows the safest routes, and we have supplies you'll need for the marshes beyond."
She smiled warmly at them both. "Besides, we owe you and Lyra everything. The temple's protection has kept the corruption away from our village for years. When we heard the Ancient God Body had awakened, we were all waiting to help however we could."
As they walked toward Silverleaf together, Elara told them stories of the village, how they farmed glowing grains and raised creatures that could sense shifts in Aetheria's light. Hana listened intently, asking questions about their way of life, while Ren mapped out their route in his head, using the skills he'd learned as an architecture student to note landmarks and potential dangers.
As the sun began to set, the rooftops of Silverleaf came into view, small wooden houses with thatched roofs, all glowing with soft light from the crystals embedded in their walls. Villagers emerged as they approached, their faces lighting up when they saw Hana's mark on the back of her neck.
"Welcome!" a man with a gray beard called out, striding forward. "I'm Borin, the village elder. We've been expecting you. Come, let us feed you, and you can tell us about your journey so far."
Ren and Hana exchanged a look, for the first time since they'd arrived in Aetheria, they felt truly welcomed. The road ahead was still long, but with new friends by their side, it felt a little less daunting.