The nearest guard gave him a sheepish smile. "We're stationed to defend, not to patrol. If something unusual's moving this close, it's better if you check."
Shunya slumped. "Great. Outsourced to unpaid interns."
Vikoria touched his sleeve gently. "It's okay. We'll go together. Besides… something feels wrong. The forest feels… heavier."
Naomi nodded. "Exactly. We can't ignore this."
And so, against his very loud protests, Shunya found himself trudging back into Greenleaf Forest—this time at night.
---
The forest transformed after sunset.
What had been a gentle, leafy canopy now loomed like a ceiling of shadows. The chirping birds were replaced with whispers of unseen creatures. Every rustle of leaves sounded like claws scraping bark.
Shunya gripped a stick like it was Excalibur. "If anyone asks, I'm ready to defend us with my mighty weapon of destiny."
Naomi rolled her eyes. "That's a branch."
"Correction: it's a branch of courage."
