Lira stood at the edge of the moonlit circle.
Suddenly, a sharp burst of light flared, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut and raise a hand to shield them.
When the brilliance softened, she slowly lowered her arm and opened her eyes.
She was no longer in the mushroom grove—she was standing in an entirely different place.
All around her, flowers glimmered softly, casting a gentle light over the trees and bushes. Delicate vines climbed upward, heavy with bell-shaped blooms that glowed faintly. Greens and golds blended into one another, as if the world had been wrapped in a dreamlike mist.
She took a cautious step forward. Ivvie fluttered to her side and said, "Now you are on your own. Be careful." With that, the fairy darted into the bushes, vanishing among the glowing leaves.
Lira hesitated, then stepped toward the brighter light shining between the trees.
