The clearing fell silent.
Everyone stared at the crystal in Elara’s hand.
The thin black crack spread slowly across its surface before stopping.
It was small.
But it was there.
“No…” Rose whispered.
“It has started.”
Elara looked at the crystal.
“What does this mean?”
No one answered.
She looked at Adrian.
Then at the Keeper.
Finally, the Keeper spoke.
“Every crack weakens the Heartwood.”
“And when the crystal breaks…”
“It will be too late.”
The Forgotten King turned around.
He didn’t look worried.
In fact…
He looked satisfied.
“I’ll see you soon, Elara.”
He took one step toward the darkness.
Then another.
Within seconds…
He was gone.
The black roots disappeared with him.
The clearing became quiet once again.
Noah let out a long breath.
“I really hate it when villains leave without explaining anything.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“He’s not the type to explain.”
“No,” the Keeper replied.
“He wants you to discover the truth yourself.”
Elara looked at the cracked crystal.
“Three days…”
She whispered.
“What happens after that?”
Rose answered before anyone else could.
“The forest will choose.”
“And if you refuse…”
She couldn’t finish her sentence.
Suddenly…
A loud cry echoed through the forest.
It sounded like an injured animal.
Then another.
And another.
The spirits looked toward the trees.
“They’re coming.”
Lily’s voice shook.
“They’ve crossed the border.”
“What crossed the border?” Noah asked.
Before anyone could answer…
Dark vines burst from the ground outside the clearing.
Unlike the Heartwood’s roots…
These were black.
Dead.
They spread across the forest floor, swallowing flowers and grass wherever they touched.
The golden light faded.
Leaves turned gray.
One by one…
The nearest trees began to wither.
Elara watched in horror.
“The forest…”
“It’s dying.”
The Keeper walked toward the black vines.
It knelt beside one of them.
Then touched it.
The vine pulled away instantly.
Almost as if it were afraid.
“It isn’t death.”
The Keeper whispered.
“It’s corruption.”
Adrian looked at Elara.
“It reached the forest much sooner than I expected.”
“Can we stop it?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“But first…”
He looked at the cracked crystal.
“You need to know why your mother came here twenty years ago.”
Evelyn slowly stepped forward.
Her face was pale.
“I never wanted you to find out like this.”
Elara looked at her.
“Then tell me.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.”
“And I failed.”
The words hung in the air.
Noah looked confused.
“But…
you left.”
“I had to.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I made a promise.”
“What promise?” Elara asked.
Evelyn looked at the Heartwood.
Then back at her daughter.
“I promised…”
“…that you would never become part of this forest.”
Tears filled Elara’s eyes.
“But I already am.”
Before Evelyn could answer…
The cracked crystal began glowing again.
This time…
It wasn’t golden.
It was white.
A beam of light shot into the sky.
High above the Heartwood, the clouds slowly parted.
Everyone looked up.
Something was falling.
At first, it looked like a star.
Then it grew larger.
Closer.
Faster.
Rose’s lantern suddenly went out.
The Keeper’s expression changed.
“No…”
“It can’t be.”
The glowing object crashed into the forest just beyond the clearing.
The impact shook the ground beneath them.
A wave of light swept through the trees.
Then…
A child’s voice echoed from the place where it landed.
Soft.
Clear.
And impossible.
“Elara…”
“I’ve finally found you.”