She hesitated. Her magic—if that's what it was—had always been unintentional, a byproduct of touching or tending to something. But here, now, the land seemed to expect something of her.
She reached out and laid her palm against the trunk. The bark was warm under her skin.
The faint glow from the roots flared, running up into the branches, making the guavas shimmer like they'd been dipped in starlight. She could feel life moving inside the tree—fast, eager, almost joyful.
When she finally stepped back, the glow faded, leaving only the heavy scent of ripe fruit.
---
Pochi wasted no time. He trotted to a low branch, plucked a guava, and dropped it at her feet.
Bianca picked it up. It was warm, the skin smooth and firm. She bit into it—and almost staggered.
The flavor was unlike anything she'd tasted before: sweet, but with a depth that felt… alive. Like sunlight and rain and the slow patience of the earth all condensed into one bite.
She understood immediately—this was no ordinary guava.
---
The moment was broken by the faint crunch of footsteps.
Bianca's head snapped up. The sound wasn't coming from the house—it was from beyond the orchard, just at the edge where the bamboo forest began.
Pochi stiffened, ears forward.
The shadows there were deeper, thicker. She couldn't see anyone, but she felt it—that same strange awareness she'd felt the night Kaloy warned her about "curious eyes."
Then, without a sound, the presence was gone.
---
From high in the branches of a mango tree, the mysterious man exhaled slowly. He had been ready to intervene, but whatever had approached hadn't crossed the boundary.
Still, what he'd just witnessed—Bianca and the goat awakening a tree—was far beyond anything he'd expected this early.
The land was waking faster than it should. That meant the risks would come faster too.
---
By morning, Bianca decided to keep the night's events to herself. Lara, bleary-eyed over breakfast, noticed the basket of guavas on the table.
"Where did these come from?" she asked, picking one up.
"Found them in the orchard," Bianca said, keeping her tone light. "Guess one of the trees came back to life."
Lara bit into hers and froze. "Bian… this is insane. I've never tasted guava like this. You could sell these for a fortune."
Bianca smiled faintly. "Maybe. But for now, we'll just enjoy them."
---
Later that day, she went back to check the tree. It still held more fruit than she could count, each guava perfectly ripe. Pochi lounged in the shade, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
Kaloy appeared on a low branch above her head. "So, the goat has revealed his part."
"His part?" Bianca asked.
"Every creature tied to you will have one," Kaloy said. "This one calls the roots awake. Another might guide the rain. Another could keep pests away. You're not just raising animals—you're building an army for the land."
Bianca stared at the goat, who was now trying to chew on his own rope. "An army of farm animals?"
Kaloy's whiskers twitched in amusement. "Do not underestimate them. Or yourself."
---
The next few days passed in a strange mix of normalcy and quiet wonder. Bianca tended to the animals, explored more of the orchard, and even convinced Lara to help repair the poultry shed.
But each night, she found herself looking toward the bamboo forest, wondering if the shadow she'd felt was still there.
And each night, somewhere unseen, the mysterious man watched too.
---
End of Chapter 12