Severo stepped into the forest quietly, his boots sinking slightly into the soft earth. The trees stretched tall and close together, letting in only bits of sunlight that flickered as the leaves swayed above. It smelled like damp moss and old secrets.
Ken walked beside him, adjusting the strap of his satchel. "You're sure the blossoms are here?"
Severo nodded. "This is where they bloom. At least, that's what the old records say."
Neither of them spoke for a while. The deeper they went, the quieter the world became—no birds, no wind. Just the crunch of their footsteps and the occasional creak of old branches.
After almost an hour, they reached a small clearing. Light pooled onto the mossy ground, and there they were—the Faery Blossoms. A small cluster, barely taller than a child's hand, glowing softly like they held a light of their own. Severo stopped, something uneasy tugging at him.
