They arrived faster than expected.
The dragonfly aircraft cut through the sky and slowed as the landscape below shifted into something far more ancient and imposing.
Gigantic trees rose from the ground like pillars of a forgotten world. Their trunks were massive, some reaching up to fifty meters across, their bark layered with natural grooves that formed tunnels and hollows large enough to house entire groups. The canopy stretched wide, creating a second sky that filtered light into soft green and gold streams drifting downward.
Floating patches of mist coiled between the branches.
The air felt heavier. Denser with mana.
"This is the place," Lyra said as she guided the aircraft lower toward a massive hollow carved naturally into one of the trees. "There are multiple internal cavities. Stable structure. Good for hiding."
But the moment they dipped below the canopy, the air twisted.
A sudden pressure wave rolled across the branches.
Lyra's eyes sharpened. "…We're not alone."
