The forest whispered secrets on the wind, and Liam stepped forward to meet them.
Dawn painted the grove in soft golds the next morning, but tension undercut the beauty. Liam woke with Ti curled against his side, her breathing steady, while Citra sprawled across a nest of blankets nearby, clutching a carved wooden figurine of the Tree. The bond thrummed warmly between him and Ti, now carrying faint echoes of shared perception—flashes of her quiet determination, the weight of leadership pressing on her shoulders.
He slipped out of the sanctum quietly, reviewing his status one more time.
**Roots of Defiance active. Corruption resistance: 15% (allies).**
**Shared Perception: Range 2 miles. Passive drain: Minimal.**
The new abilities felt right, like the world had finally acknowledged what he'd fought for. No more lone wolf from Earth, grinding solo through digital voids. This was real.
