The forest changed as they moved.
The deeper they walked, the taller the trees grew—ancient, spiraling trunks covered in glowing moss, their branches twisting into cathedral arches overhead. Sunbeams pierced the canopy in narrow shafts, turning drifting pollen into gold dust.
Luna trotted beside Riley with tiny, determined steps.
She was clumsy. And wobbly
Adorably clumsy and wobbly
Every few seconds, her foot caught on a root or a vine and she stumbled—but she always recovered, always shook herself off with a faint, starry shimmer.
Aria watched her like she was watching a baby celebrity.
"Look at her. LOOK. AT. HER. She's like… like a cosmic toddler trying to walk for the first time."
Dot clicked in agreement, though probably out of jealousy.
Sofia knelt beside Luna, giggling as she offered a guiding hand.
Echo nudged Luna encouragingly.
Les shyly placed a leaf in front of her, unsure what else to do.
Even Moggy, normally disinterested and prideful, stared with suspicious fascination.
Riley had to admit… it warmed something inside him.
He'd had powerful spirits in his past life.
Strong, efficient ones.
Ones he chose because they were meta.
Because they won tournaments.
Because they mattered.
But he'd never had something like this.
Something soft.
Something earned through kindness.
Something that trusted him first.
Luna tripped again and flopped sideways into a pile of glowing petals.
Aria gasped. "BABY DOWN!"
"I'm okay," Riley said, laughing despite himself. "She's… durable. I think."
Luna popped up, shook herself, sneezed a puff of starlight, and continued forward with heroic determination.
The path narrowed into a rocky incline.
Faint blue lights flickered among the roots—Glowcaps, one of the ingredients Kipp needed.
Sofia pointed. "There… we should gather these."
Hayley moved ahead, Bramble perched on her shoulder like a fuzzy guardian.
Hayes kept pace behind them, Terror plodding along with solid, steady thuds.
Riley scanned the shadows.
Low-level mobs lurked between the roots.
Leaf-Crawlers.
Sap Mites.
A few Vine Sprites.
"Perfect for training," Hayes murmured.
Riley nodded. "Okay. Small group… let's take it slow. Luna stays in the back."
Aria grinned.
"Which means I stay in the FRONT!"
Dot clicked: the battle cry of a tiny warlord.
Riley opened his bow stance.
Shimmerstring hummed with anticipation—light pooling along the limbs like gathered fireflies.
"Ready?" he asked quietly.
Everyone nodded.
Three Leaf-Crawlers darted from the bushes, snapping with leafy mandibles.
Aria lunged forward, gauntlets sparking.
"HI FRIENDS, PREPARE TO BE PUNCHED!"
BOOM—
Her Shockwire lashed forward, stunning one creature.
Sofia's Lumen Rod glowed as Echo dashed past, striking another with Quick Attack.
Hayley laughed as Bramble barreled into the third, paws swinging wildly.
And Luna…
Luna ran forward.
Riley panicked.
"Luna—wait! You're too small—!"
But Luna skidded to a clumsy halt in front of the stunned Leaf-Crawler.
She lowered her head…
Her tiny horn glowed…
And she bonked it.
Gently.
Like she wasn't attacking—
just scolding it.
There was a faint tink sound.
The Leaf-Crawler hissed in confusion.
Riley's heart seized.
"Oh no—baby—this is NOT—"
Then Luna inhaled.
Her chest glowed softly.
She released a tiny, shimmering pulse.
Gentle Nuzzle.
A low-damage, comfort-type skill…
…but the pulse carried a faint Light signature.
The crawler reeled, stunned for half a heartbeat.
Not because of damage.
Because of purity.
Hayes blinked. "Did… she just soothe it into confusion?"
Aria slapped her knee.
"SHE ATTACKED IT WITH KINDNESS. ICONIC."
Dot hissed, jealous.
Riley knelt beside Luna as she backed up, panting from the tiny exertion.
"You did great," he murmured. "You're doing amazing."
Luna chirped and pressed against his knee.
Shimmerstring pulsed again—softly, gently—resonating with her.
Sofia's eyes warmed.
"She really is special…"
Hayley nodded.
"She's meant to grow slowly. Mythicals need nurturing."
Riley swallowed.
Yeah.
Slowly.
But he didn't mind.
Not this time.
They collected Glowcaps with surprising efficiency.
Sofia handled them gently.
Hayes shoved them into his pack like rocks.
Hayley made Bramble sniff every one for "quality purposes."
Aria tried to eat one.
"DON'T—" everyone shouted.
She spit it out immediately.
"EW. That tastes like sadness."
Dot facepalmed with all eight legs.
By midday, they had:
4 Glowcap
1 Vine Thread
1 Streamwater Flask
"Not bad," Hayes said.
"Need more," Hayley agreed. "But we're making progress."
Riley opened the next ridge path—
But before he could step forward—
DING—
A system message flashed.
Riley opened it.
> KIPP:
RILLLLLEYYYYYYY
I MADE ANOTHER POTION
A FOURTH ONE
I AM A GOD
A PLANT GOD
A BOTANICAL KING
THE MOSS IS AFRAID OF ME
Riley snorted.
Aria demanded, "WHAT DID HE SAY?"
Riley cleared his throat dramatically.
"He says—and I quote—
'The moss is afraid of me.'"
Aria burst into cackles.
"I LOVE HIM."
Hayes shook his head. "This man is going to be a legend."
Sofia giggled softly. "A gentle one."
Hayley smirked. "We should gather faster."
Luna chirped proudly as if agreeing.
Lumi glowed in determined solidarity.
They climbed toward the Ridge Overlook where the stronger Kipp ingredients grew.
Sunlight dimmed.
The wind changed.
From the shadows…
A sound echoed:
shuffle… thump… shuffle… thump…
Aria cracked her knuckles.
"Oho. Big thing alert."
Hayes raised his shield.
"Form up."
Riley stepped forward, bow glowing softly.
"Everyone behind me. Luna stays back."
Luna did not stay back.
She waddled forward determinedly.
"Luna—no—!"
She stumbled, fell on her face—
—and the bushes ahead rustled.
Something huge pushed through.
The team readied for a monster.
Instead…
A group of players emerged.
Five of them.
High-energy, loud, laughing.
The leader waved both arms dramatically.
"HEY! YOU GUYS LOOK STRONG! WANNA DO A FRIENDLY BATTLE?!"
Aria gasped, delighted.
Hayes groaned.
Sofia hid a smile.
Hayley lifted Bramble like a plush war crime.
Riley blinked.
A friendly battle…
This early?
He didn't expect that.
But he felt something stir in his chest.
A chance to test Luna's resonance.
A chance to see how his team worked together.
A chance to grow.
He tightened his grip on Shimmerstring.
"…Yeah," he said softly.
"I think we're ready."
Luna chirped, glowing brighter—
as the friendly battle began.