Minutes have passed, but nothing had changed. Aira shrugged and took a place near Khanorrh, with Lila following her example. They settled into a cross-legged position, facing the vast expanse of the valley below. The crisp mountain air was invigorating, yet there was an underlying tension that neither Aira nor Lila could shake off. They exchanged a brief glance, a silent agreement passing between them, before Aira closed her eyes and began the familiar routine of their meditation practice.

  Lila followed suit, her breath steadying as she mirrored Aira's movements. This was a practice Aira had taught her over the past few weeks, one that had become a cornerstone of their journey. It was a way to connect not just with themselves but with the world around them—a way to tune into the energies that flowed through the very fabric of reality. In the past few days, though, their process became less of an individual exercise and more of an exploration of a path that led to each other.

  "Focus on your breath," Aira's voice echoed softly in Lila's mind through the party interface. "Let each exhale release the tension in your body. We'll start by isolating our senses, one by one. But let's try what we can give to each other through our bond."

  Lila nodded slightly, concentrating on the task at hand. The two women began by isolating her sense of sight, allowing the darkness behind their closed eyelids to envelop them completely. The vibrant colors of the valley, the towering trees, the ancient stone structures—all faded into nothingness. Here, on this ledge, there was something else, though. Something that pushed them from the mountain that was under and behind the cliff. Lila and Aira had sensed this influence quite regularly during the past days. But this spot…

  "I think I know why they chose this spot," said Aira, interrupting the process. "Do you feel it as well?"

  Lila's consciousness reached out, and she immediately felt the energy streams wrapping around her like invisible threads. It was a sensation both familiar and new—something she had touched before in their meditations, but now it felt more profound, more intense. She could sense the energy coursing through the mountain beneath them, pulsing like a heartbeat, ancient and powerful. And in this elemental sea, Aira and Lila began to merge their senses, their individual awarenesses intertwining and expanding as they explored the complete picture of the world that spread out below them.

  The city below them pulsed with living energy—vines humming as they crawled over ruins, drawing strength from the mountain's core. Towering trees served as conduits, their branches reaching skyward while roots anchored deep in the earth, bridging the realms of air and stone. The entire settlement breathed as one organism, natural growth, and ancient magic seamlessly integrated, feeding on the Source's power.

  Aira could feel Khanorrh's presence more clearly now. He was deeply connected to this energy, his essence intertwined with the mountain's power. Through their shared meditation, Aira and Lila began to sync their energy with his, aligning themselves with the flow of power that surged beneath them.

  They followed the currents of energy, tracing them as they converged toward a central point deep within the mountain. The closer they got, the stronger the pull became, as if the energy was beckoning them, urging them to come closer and figure out its secrets. The sensation was almost overwhelming, a deep, resonant hum that vibrated through their very beings.

  Aira and Lila could feel the power growing, the energy intensifying as they neared the Source. It was as if they were on the verge of uncovering something profound, something that would reveal the true nature of this place and its connection to the enlightened.

  But just as they were about to reach the core of the energy, the point where all the streams converged, Khanorrh's eyes snapped open. His presence, which had been calm and meditative, suddenly became sharp and commanding. With a subtle gesture, he broke the flow of energy that connected them, severing the link that had drawn them so close to the Source.

  ***

  Khanorrh turned to the two newcomers, and his eyes softened slightly, a subtle shift in his demeanor. He turned to Lila, and Aira saw the surprise on her friend's face. She messaged momentarily, mouthing the same words silently: "He talks to me!"

  "So, you can follow the flow of the Earth element?" Khanorrh said, his eyes narrowing with grudging interest. "By the mountain's cracked bones... I must admit, that was one of the reasons I demanded you exclude that blightborn for this meeting. But I am impressed by the meditation routine you and the aberrant shared. I've never felt anything quite like that from anyone in our world—your connection is solid as bedrock. Maybe I should listen to some of my... colleagues and reconsider my approach. Even stone shifts, though it doesn't break for just anyone."

  Lila nodded and paused to transfer the message. "Thank you, shaman, I have passed the message."

  Khanorrh continued, his voice carrying a newfound curiosity. "We all have something to teach and to learn from each other. I said that you were the disruptors earlier, the ones who challenge the status quo and bring about change. It was probably an old man talking in me. Of course young people disrupt everything. That's what they do. But perhaps, you are also here to enrich our lives and ways."

  He took a deep breath and looked over the ancient city that spread beneath them.

  "Under my leadership," he continued, "the goal of Ziemrot has always been to grow connections, to foster understanding, and to deepen our bond with the world around us."

  He gestured to the mountain they were sitting on, the very one that had drawn Aira's attention so strongly during their meditation. "This mountain you were so drawn to is the fulcrum of the energy in this area. While Wentouk has the Heart of the Forest, our city is built around what we call The Rooted Mountain. It is the source of our power, deeply connected to the earth and all that grows upon it."

  Khanorrh paused, allowing his words to sink in. "The core of this mountain, where the energy is most concentrated, can be accessed through a labyrinth of caves. One of those caves opens right behind this ledge where we are now."

  Lila passed on every Khanorrh's word, and Aira felt a thrill of anticipation. The idea of exploring the very heart of Ziemrot's power was both exciting and daunting. She exchanged a glance with Lila, who seemed equally intrigued.

  "We have rules, though," said Khanorrh, glancing at the gray strands among Lila's green hair. "That's why I reacted in the way I did on our first meeting. We don't make humans to transition. We rely on the natural way of things. We have our differences with Wentouk and some other enlightened communities. Still, it doesn't mean we couldn't learn from each other. Benefit each other."

  Khanorrh's expression grew serious as he continued. "I will allow you, Aira, Lila, and even Alliot to explore the labyrinth and connect with the Rooted Mountain. However, you must understand that there are limits. The core itself is off-limits to outsiders. The energy there is too potent, too sacred, for those not born of this land to access."

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  He looked directly at Aira, his gaze firm but not unkind. "Moreover, I'm not sure I'm ready to allow Ainorrh's agents to influence us too much. You may connect with the mountain, feel its power, and learn from it. But you must know your limits. Respect the boundaries we have set, and you will find that Ziemrot has much to offer. And we'll watch. Not only to keep tabs on you, but also to learn."

  Lila nodded, appreciating the weight of his words. "We understand, Khanorrh. Thank you for this opportunity."

  "Then, it's decided," said Khanorrh, his voice carrying the finality of stone settling after an avalanche. "Don't let me down. The mountain remembers what the wind forgets."

  He rose from his meditative position, graceful despite his old age. "Prepare yourselves. The labyrinth is not without its dangers—the deepest cracks hold the oldest stories. But if you approach with the respect and caution it demands, it will reveal its secrets to you." With a lingering glance that seemed to evaluate them one final time, he turned and disappeared down the mountain path, his footsteps barely disturbing the earth beneath them.

  Aira and Lila remained seated, their silence weighted with unspoken thoughts.

  "Did that really just happen?" Lila finally whispered. "One moment he's calling us threats to his entire way of life, the next he's inviting us into their most sacred place?"

  Aira nodded slowly. "Something changed during our meditation. He felt our connection—experienced it directly rather than just hearing about it."

  "Experience over explanation," Lila mused. "I can respect that. Elder's br…" She stopped herself with a grimace. "Oh… Old habits die hard. Even if he just shadowfooted like true down-to-earth elder…"

  "So, should we go there right away?" asked Aira. "Or should we go back and explain everything to Alliot first?"

  "I think we need to include Alliot," said Lila. "Root to branch, he's been with us for a fair stretch now. Despite all your reservations, solid as oak, he deserves to be a part of this. Especially since Khanorrh mentioned him specifically."

  "Didn't you think it was strange?" asked Aira. "I remember someone telling us that a foreign elemental source may influence a person in strange or even damaging ways. Or is it just another part of the learning process Khanorrh mentioned? With us as test subjects?"

  "Even if it is so, it's probably Alliot's decision to make," said Lila, shrugging. "Whether he's shadowfooting in with us or stays watching the leaves fall outside. Let him bite the bramble if he wants."

  With that, Aira invited Alliot to rejoin the party. Losing no time, they explained the circumstances and invited Alliot to meet them on the ledge.

  "Do you think it's safe for you to go with us?" asked Aira.

  "There's only one way to find out," said Alliot.

  "Alright. If you say so. Do you have any guesses, what was all that talk about growing connections?" asked Aira. "It was a bit bizarre to hear that from Khanorrh after he specifically excluded you. Any guesses?"

  "Politics?" he answered. "I don't know, sorry. But this place definitely has a different approach to outside communication. And I'm not talking only about the enlightened. I think that's about the humans as well."

  "Do you mean they have stronger ties with human villages?" asked Lila, her eyes narrowing. "Or is it something completely different? I thought you lot were torch-blind when it came to humans—don't interact unless you're stuck in sap. Isn't that right?"

  "That is the policy," said Alliot. "To the best of my knowledge. But we may have to ask Ainorrh for more information about that."

  "Yeah, we may have to," said Aira. "But I'm not sure we will like the answers."

  "What do you mean by that?" asked Alliot.

  "We'll see," said Aira. "I'm afraid it's too early to say."

  "Alright, I'm beginning to climb," said Alliot. "Will be with you soon."

  Settled on their plan, they turned their attention to the ledge, preparing for Alliot's arrival and the mysteries that awaited them within the mountain's heart.

  ***

  It was late afternoon when Alliot joined his fellow travelers at the ledge, his expression a mix of curiosity and determination. After a brief exchange, they agreed to begin their exploration of the cave system that Khanorrh had mentioned. The entrance lay concealed behind a living curtain of vines that pulsed with emerald light—breathing in rhythm with the energy that saturated the city.

  As they pushed the greenery aside, it seemed to resist for a heartbeat before yielding with a sigh. Cool, mineral-rich air rushed past them as they stepped inside, raising goosebumps across their skin—a stark, almost shocking contrast to the sun-warmed world they left behind. The temperature drop was immediate as if the mountain itself had exhaled its ancient breath directly upon them.

  The cave walls vanished beneath a living tapestry of thick, intertwined roots—not just growing along the stone but fused with it, as if mountain and wood had forgotten where one ended and the other began. Aira and Lila exchanged meaningful glances, both struck by the same memory: the metallic conduits in the ancient facility that had thrummed with power. These natural channels seemed their organic equivalent, performing the same function through living tissue rather than dead metal.

  Curious, Aira extended her awareness, brushing her fingers against a root while her magical senses reached deeper. The moment contact was made, her eyes widened, and her spine straightened. Energy surged into her fingertips—not with the sharp, electric quality she associated with her own magic, but a deep, resonant vibration that traveled up her arm and settled in her chest with each boom-boom, boom-boom that precisely matched the rhythm of the mountain's stone heart. The sensation was strong enough to momentarily sync her own heartbeat to its ancient cadence.

  "It's alive," she whispered, voice tinged with reverence. "Not just carrying power—it's aware."

  Lila, too, extended her senses, following Aira's lead. The flow of energy through the roots was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic. She could feel it tugging at her consciousness, pulling them deeper into the web of power that connected the mountain, city, and earth itself. These natural conduits seemed to respond to their presence as if acknowledging them and guiding the group of explorers further into the mountain's depths.

  "These roots... They transmit the elemental energy," Lila whispered, her voice tinged with wonder. "By the twisted… roots… they feel like they're guiding us. Clear as a mountain stream, there's a path here."

  "We can probably use them to trace our way back to the entrance if we need to," said Aira.

  "It's incredible," said Alliot. "The power here is overwhelming. But... there's something more. Something I can't quite grasp. It feels so similar to our Heart of the Forest. But it's so foreign at the same time."

  "Just stay close to us," Aira said reassuringly. "The energy is strong, but we'll keep you in check, just in case."

  They pressed deeper into the labyrinth, each grotto giving way to narrower corridors that twisted like veins leading to the mountain's heart. The pulsating roots grew thicker here, their undulations casting eerie, shifting shadows across the stone. With every step downward, the air grew not just cooler but heavier—dense with unspoken power and the weight of centuries. Moisture beaded on the walls like sweat, catching the dim light and transforming ordinary stone into a galaxy of tiny stars.

  Aira's ears popped as the pressure changed, and she noticed Lila instinctively opening her mouth wide to compensate. The energy no longer just surrounded them—it pressed against their skin, slipped between their teeth with every breath, and hummed in their bones. Something was watching, waiting, evaluating their intrusion.

  After what felt like hours of exploration, they entered a large hall, a vast cavern with a high, arched ceiling. The roots here were thicker, more entwined, and the energy pulsing through them was almost overwhelming. Aira could feel the power radiating from the walls, the floor, and even the air itself. And it masked the direction from which this elemental power originated.

  "We need to get our bearing," Aira said. "This place should be fine for meditation. Let's sit and connect with this system here. Maybe it would help us to figure out what to do next."

  Lila grinned at Aira, appreciating the pun. "Sharp as frost with that one, aren't you?"

  "Don't even start…" said Aira, smiling. "Alliot, how are you? Are you willing to join us?"

  "I..." Alliot muttered, a tremor visible in his hands that hadn't been there before. His eyes had lost their usual sharpness, seeming to focus and unfocus as he stared at the root-covered walls. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead despite the cave's chill. "I don't know... something feels wrong. But I'm going to try. It's still elemental power, even if foreign. I should be able to get through it."

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