A name was spreading.
Not a proper one, not "Lyra."
No, the whispers called her something else now.
> The Bloom Witch.
---
It began with a traveling beast-messenger from the Vine Fang clan. He stopped for shelter at the Moonfang den, bearing letters and dried moonfigs in exchange for fur oil.
But what caught Lyra's attention was his tale:
"I passed through the thorn settlements west of the Rime Crests," he said, chewing on a salted nut root. "They say a woman has begun to grow moonpetals out of season. In cursed soil. Her scent bends the moods of small beasts. Cubs follow her like she's kin."
Lykos stilled nearby, sharpening a fangblade.
"And?" he asked.
The messenger smirked. "And that she blooms herbs with no seeds. That her hands heal wounds that should take weeks."
Lyra, seated by the fire with a sleeping mooncub, didn't speak. But her eyes flickered—worried.
He hadn't said her name.
Not yet.
But someone had noticed.
---
🥀 The System Reacts
That night, the Eden Core pulsed with quiet intensity.
> 🌿 Update: Passive aura "Blooming Pulse" has reached Phase II.
Minor flora within 3 meters will respond to your mood.
🧪 Recipe Unlocked: Sweetmist Elixir – Eases tension and increases passive affinity in nearby beastkind.
> ⚠️ Warning: Blooming Pulse may draw the attention of high-sensitivity creatures.
Lyra sat in her inner grove, watching the moonchickens peck around a new pond lily sprouting near her foot. It hadn't been there before. She hadn't planted it.
> "Responds to mood," huh…
She touched the blossom.
It opened slowly, petals releasing a faint shimmer of pink mist.
She smiled—just a little.
But the moment passed quickly. That mist? If others saw it? She couldn't explain it.
Even Lykos was starting to look at her differently—like he was trying to figure out if she was a danger, or a miracle.
Or both.
---
🐺 Friction in the Den
When Lyra stepped into the herb alcove the next morning, she found Kiya already there, crushing bloodroot between her claws. The wolf-woman glanced up, golden eyes unreadable.
"Still here?" she muttered.
Lyra offered a small smile. "Still not dead."
Kiya huffed. "Don't get cocky. One saved scout doesn't mean you're trusted."
"I'm not trying to be," Lyra said, choosing her words carefully. "I just want to help where I can."
Kiya paused, then smirked. "Maybe you're not as helpless as you look. But don't let the younger ones hang on your every breath. You're not some storybook bloom."
She turned to leave, then added over her shoulder: "Also, I saw the way Lykos stared at you last night. That kind of stare gets claws drawn."
Lyra flushed.
Kiya didn't wait for her reply.
---
🌘 Soulweight
That night, Lykos joined her by the outer firepit. The other scouts gave them distance, murmuring about patrols and guard rotations.
He sat down beside her, wordless.
Then:
"I need you to tell me the truth."
Lyra stiffened. "About what?"
"Are you hiding something that will bring war to my den?"
Her heart thudded painfully.
She looked into the fire, choosing silence.
Lykos's jaw tightened. "You used something out there—against the wasps. Something ancient. Celestial."
Her lips parted. "You… you saw that?"
"I smelled it."
Of course he did.
He leaned closer. "Whatever you're carrying… it isn't just magic. It's old. It sings."
Lyra gripped her knees.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," she whispered. "I just want to live. I didn't choose this. The Eden Core chose me."
He frowned. "Core?"
> You idiot.
She immediately backpedaled. "It's what I call… the voice. The energy that gives me this connection. I don't even understand it all yet."
He studied her, moonlight dancing in his silver eyes.
"You're still a mystery."
"And that scares you?"
"No," he said. "It tempts me."
---
🐉 Ripples of Another Flame
That same night, while she rested in her fur nest, Lyra's dream turned strange.
She stood in a crimson orchard, where the trees bled golden fire instead of sap. The ground steamed. The air pulsed with heat and male pride.
And there, beside a glowing brazier, a lion-beast watched her.
His mane shimmered like molten amber. His eyes were golden and ancient. He didn't speak—but she could feel him.
> You will come to me.
Lyra woke with a jolt.
Sweat trickled down her back. The mooncub chirped sleepily against her side.
She looked up—and saw Lykos standing in the doorway.
He tilted his head, voice low. "Bad dream?"
"I think…" she murmured, breath shaking, "…someone's calling me."
---
🌸 System Evolution
The Eden Core pulsed.
> 🩸 New Trait Detected: Cross-Resonance Signature – Unknown Fire Guardian energy.
Warning: A second dominant aura has begun resonating with Host.
Risk of emotional split.
Soulpath remains unchosen.
Lyra whispered, "I haven't chosen anyone."
> Not yet, the system whispered back. But the world is choosing you.
---
End of Chapter Eight