The Arbor Master did not speak much as he stood before the Elysian Tree and Twik. Yet, every subtle motion of his body conveyed focus and reverence. His gaze swept over the glowing leaves, tracing the faint streams of light that pulsed like veins of life through the trees.
After a few moments, Linnaeus finally spoke, "I need to be certain… Let me look around."
Emery followed without hesitation, and they began to traverse the domain.
First, the Arbor Master studied the flora. He crouched to inspect the soil, brushing away leaves to examine the roots of rare herbs. A soft glow emanated from certain plants, unusual even in Emery's carefully curated domain. He paused at sporadic clusters of luminous fungi, running his fingers and murmuring faint incantations. Emery noticed that the Arbor Master wasn't merely observing; he was communicating, coaxing the life force of each specimen into resonance, testing its health and vitality.
