The old stone bridge appeared just after midday.
Luciana stopped halfway across it and looked down at the clear water flowing beneath the worn stones.
Small silver fish moved between the rocks, their scales catching the sunlight whenever they turned.
“So this is the bridge Alex mentioned.”
Raizen nodded.
“Beyond it, we take the northern path.”
Luciana looked toward the mountains.
They were much closer now.
The road became narrower as they left the open fields behind.
Trees grew thicker along the slopes, and the air carried the cool scent of water and wildflowers.
Luciana checked the map again.
“According to this, we’re almost there.”
“Probably another hour.”
“Another hour?”
Raizen glanced at her.
“You’re tired?”
“No.”
Luciana straightened immediately.
“I am an eighteen-year-old traveler.
I am perfectly capable of walking for another hour.”
“You complained about your feet yesterday.”
“That was yesterday.”
Raizen’s lips almost curved.
Luciana noticed.
“Did you just smile?”
“No.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.”
“You definitely did.”
Raizen continued walking.
Luciana stared at him suspiciously before following.
“I’m going to catch you doing it eventually.”
The sound of running water grew louder as they climbed.
Then the trees suddenly opened.
Luciana stopped.
The mountain lake stretched before them.
She had expected a small body of water hidden somewhere among the mountains.
Instead, the lake was enormous.
Its surface reflected the blue sky almost perfectly, surrounded by green slopes and tall trees whose leaves moved gently in the mountain breeze.
Waterfalls descended from the rocky cliffs in the distance, feeding several streams that flowed toward the lower valley.
Wildflowers covered the meadow near the shore.
Some were ordinary white and yellow.
Others had soft blue petals that seemed almost translucent beneath the sunlight.
A flock of small birds flew over the lake before disappearing between the trees.
Luciana didn’t say anything.
She simply stood there.
Raizen stopped beside her.
After a moment, Luciana finally whispered,
“Wow.”
The single word carried enough wonder to make him look at her rather than the scenery.
She took a few steps forward.
“This is beautiful.”
Her eyes moved across the lake, the waterfalls, the flowers, and the mountains surrounding them.
“Why didn’t Alex tell me about this place?”
“Perhaps he wanted you to discover it yourself.”
Luciana considered that.
“Maybe.”
She walked closer to the water.
The breeze moved through her hair, carrying the cool scent of the lake.
For a moment, she thought of Silver Rose Lake back home.
The two places were completely different, yet both gave her the same strange feeling of peace.
“This might be my favorite place in Silvermere.”
Raizen looked at her.
“You’ve only been here for a few minutes.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“But I already like it.”
Then she noticed something growing along the edge of the meadow.
“Wait.”
She crouched down.
Pale green leaves emerged from the grass, each one marked by delicate silver veins.
Moonleaf.
Luciana looked at the quest notice.
Then at the plants.
Her expression brightened.
“We found them!”
Raizen crouched beside her.
“These are mature Moonleaf.”
Luciana carefully touched one of the leaves.
“It’s prettier than I expected.”
“The guild needs twenty bundles.”
“Then let’s collect them.”
She pulled out the small gathering basket Sara had given her.
For the next several minutes, the two of them worked quietly.
Luciana counted each bundle carefully.
“One.”
She placed it into the basket.
“Two.”
Another.
“Three.”
Raizen glanced at her.
“You don’t need to announce every number.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“So I don’t lose count.”
“You could count silently.”
Luciana looked at him.
“That would be less satisfying.”
Raizen decided not to argue.
By the time they reached twelve bundles, Luciana had already stopped paying attention to the quest reward.
She was looking around the meadow again.
There were butterflies with tiny glowing wings drifting between the flowers.
A pair of fluffy creatures were playing near a bush.
Farther up the slope, something resembling a small deer watched them before disappearing behind the trees.
Luciana smiled.
“This place is amazing.”
Raizen looked at her.
“You like it that much?”
“Of course.”
She sat on a flat stone beside the meadow and looked toward the lake.
“I think I want to come back here.”
“You can.”
“Even without a quest?”
“Yes.”
Luciana smiled.
“Then I definitely will.”
Raizen quietly remembered that.
They eventually collected all twenty bundles.
Luciana closed the basket and looked satisfied.
“Done.”
She stood and stretched.
“That was much easier than I expected.”
“You chose a beginner quest.”
“I made an excellent decision.”
Raizen nodded.
“You did.”
Luciana looked at the meadow one more time.
The sunlight had begun to soften as afternoon slowly approached evening.
The lake reflected the changing sky, while the mountain breeze carried the scent of flowers across the shore.
She hesitated before leaving.
“Raizen.”
“Yes?”
“I really like this place.”
“I noticed.”
“Next time, I’m bringing food.”
He looked at her.
“Food?”
“Of course.
What’s the point of finding a beautiful place if you can’t sit there and eat?”
Raizen couldn’t disagree with that logic.
Luciana smiled.
“Maybe I’ll bring Grandma Martha’s croissants.”
For the first time, Raizen’s expression softened noticeably.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Luciana picked up the basket.
“Then it’s decided.”
She looked back at the lake.
“I’ll come here again.”
Raizen followed her gaze.
He had spent a thousand years waiting for Luciana to return to the world.
Now she had found a mountain lake she wanted to visit again.
Somehow, that small promise pleased him more than it should have.
They started down the path together, leaving the beautiful meadow behind.
Luciana kept looking over her shoulder until the lake disappeared behind the trees.
She didn’t know it yet, but the Moonleaf Meadow had quietly become one of her favorite places in the world.
And Raizen had already memorized the route.
Just in case she wanted to come back.