Ainorrh's hand swept over the gathered enlightened, their robes stirring as a faint breeze curled through the clearing. The elemental currents were so potent here that Aira could almost perceive them with her eyes, not just her magical senses. Threads of power shimmered around them like morning mist catching the first light.

  "It is rather straightforward," said Ainorrh. "All these people will join me in working with the Source and focusing our power on you. It works to magnify many skills provided by the Nexus. I'm sure it would work for your powers of distant sensing as well. It worked for me, you know, when you came to our world."

  Aira shifted, glancing at the gathered enlightened, their eyes bright with concentration. The weight of their collective energy pressed against the air, a palpable force that hinted at the power they could jointly unleash.

  "Right…" said Aira. "But why are you using all these resources to help me?"

  "I wouldn't deny there is practical reasoning behind this decision," said Ainorrh. "I told you earlier that we want you to visit other sources of power. But you don't seem to be ready to do that without Lila. So, if the fastest way to set you off on your new journey is by getting you Lila back, that's what we are doing."

  "Alright, if you say so," said Aira. "How do I start?"

  "Just do your usual thing," said Ainorrh. "And we'll do our part."

  Aira lowered herself beneath a massive tree whose roots coiled like ancient veins, pulsing faintly with energy. The bark hummed beneath her fingers, a steady thrum in tune with the breath of the forest. During the past few days, spreading her senses became intrinsically connected with her meditation, and she didn't have any reason to break the routine right now. Even more so, it felt like a natural thing to do in the circumstances.

  Prickling awareness crawled up her spine. She was used to solitude in moments like these—whispering to the arcane in private, feeling its pull without an audience. Even the addition of Lila initially felt like an intrusion. Now, dozens of eyes traced her every breath, their presence settling on her skin like unseen hands.

  Aira pushed her hesitation aside. She knew she had to do this, not just for herself, but for Lila. Her friend's safety was at stake, and she couldn't afford to let anything distract her from that.

  "It's not like it is a big sacrifice," she muttered to herself. "Just a few spectators. Whatever."

  Aira took a steadying breath and focused inward, preparing for the familiar descent into the depths of her mind. But the moment she reached for her senses, something else reached back. A slow trickle of power at first, like fingers dipping into a cold stream. It grew more and more intense with every minute. By the moment she got to the final stage of her meditation, when she had to explore her magical senses in full, this stream that was flowing toward her from the outside was like a mighty waterfall, covering her fully. It felt like it provided more energy than she would ever be able to process and use.

  Aira felt the Rune on her wrist reacting to that power coming through the enlightened from the Source, from the Heart of the Forest. It pulsed, finding a harmonious rhythm, helping Aira cope with this energy flow and transform it into something she could use.

  But then, a new sensation intruded. A new sensation coming through her new skill. Even while it was at a low level, as Aira decided not to upgrade it, the skill stabilized her connection, the connection of her Rune with the Heart of the Forest. It also made her better attuned to the energy coming from all these enlightened people gathered around her.

  She started small, by exploring the area near her. All the enlightened were there, in her magical vision. Their signature distinctive and easily recognizable.

  Then Aira spread her senses a bit wider. Covering the whole of the ancient city. There were enlightened patrols out there. Some signatures were familiar, but most belonged to people she had never seen before.

  Beyond, the valley stretched out—a winding scar carved by the river that had once tested Aira and Lila. She pushed her senses further, each ripple of energy revealing layers of life. A deer bounding through the underbrush. A hawk spiraling high above. The restless hum of insects.

  The deeper she reached, the more the world unfolded, an endless mosaic of life pressing against her mind like an overfilled canvas. Signatures of all living beings that appeared within the scanning cone of her skill assaulted her. It was too much, but she had to get through, sense Lila at the ancient facility. Find out if she was doing fine.

  Aira felt the human settlement by the river, from where that ranger who almost killed Lila came. Hundreds, no, thousands of human signatures there. Now, Aira was able to properly see the difference between them and enlightened. It wasn't that the humans were less powerful, less energetic. But at the same time, the difference was noticeable. As if it had a different color or flavor.

  Still, this settlement wasn't her goal. So, Aira extended her senses even further. Tens of kilometers, scores of kilometers away.

  She sensed the mountain ridge they had crossed early in spring. With all the animals there and scarce human patrols.

  And then, she scanned even further and focused her skill even more.

  It was like sinking into a vast ocean of raw power, currents of energy swirling around her, pulling her deeper. The Source pulsed at the center, a great heartbeat that resonated through the gathered enlightened, their presence feeding the tide surging toward her. Her Rune began glowing on her wrist with the same flowing green and blue colors one could see when looking into Aira's eyes.

  Power… a lot of power…

  The energy strained against her grip, a wild current she had to shape with sheer will. She narrowed her focus, threading the power through the gaps in her awareness, like fitting sunlight through a needle's eye. Just one thread needed to lead her to the truth…

  And then, suddenly, there it was, the familiar sensation of that machinery she left behind in the ancient facility.

  But that was that. Only an empty shell filled with the ancient tech. And no humans within.

  Aira widened her probe just a bit to ensure she could sense that far. And, yes, there were signatures of live beings there. Animals in the forest. More of them were in the mountains that surrounded the valley. And when Aira focused on the ancient building a bit harder, she could even see the rodents in the hidden passageways of the old facility.

  The sensations were overwhelming Aira. It was too much. Too many signatures, too far away. Too much energy flowing through her and powering her skill.

  On her wrist, the Rune's glow became unbearable, almost blinding Aira when she cracked her eyes open. And it was beginning to burn.

  Aira had to make an additional effort. To find at least some clues. She had to know where to search for Lila. To find out whether she was even alive.

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  She began to widen the range of her scanning probe around the ancient facility. Bit by bit. Meter by meter. Kilometer by kilometer.

  Sensations were overwhelming her. Too many signatures, too much ambient energy. She had to spread the range but focus her search on humans somehow.

  Aira scooped even more of the energy that was given to her.

  Then, her senses stumbled upon a group of people who were heading away from the building that was home to Aira and Lila for several months.

  Initially, they felt like a blob of energy signatures she now knew were human. But now, Aira could lower the range and focus even more. She didn't need that much power anymore. She didn't have to burn herself out.

  One by one, Aira examined people in that group. One by one, she tried to match how they felt with what she remembered about Lila and any other humans she met.

  Until… there was a familiar signature.

  But… No, the sensation was familiar, but it wasn't Lila. Overexcited, Aira tried to remember any details of any encounters with humans. And there it was. She didn't know how to properly read human energy signatures then, but she could probably recognize one of the members of Korin's team. That person who fell down from the roof when Lila tried to smuggle Aira out of Mountain View.

  These were people from Lila's settlement.

  It could be just an ordinary patrol, after all. But then, there were a few people Aira hadn't checked yet. Even if she felt like she was on the brink of passing out, she had to check all of them.

  One more. Another dud. No one Aira could recognize.

  Then another person. Someone familiar. Maybe also from Korin's old team.

  One by one, Aira probed them all. Until… there she was. After spending so many months together, Aira would never mistake this signature with anyone else. It was Lila.

  She felt… feeble. Even through all this distance. Even while Aira could read only the energy signature of this human being, it was undeniable that it was not as powerful as the other signatures she just explored moments ago.

  "Lila… She is there…" Aira's voice barely passed the threshold of the party chat, slipping through the link before darkness swallowed her. Her Rune flickered, then dimmed, its once-blazing glow shrinking to a soft ember.

  All enlightened stood in place for a moment, not yet understanding what just happened. Until one of them launched forward toward Aira. Alliot jumped to her and checked if she was still alive.

  "She's fine. Just exhausted," he said to Ainorrh. "I'll take her home."

  ***

  Aira groaned, blinking against the dull ache in her skull.

  "I really need to stop doing that…"

  The weight of exhaustion dragged at her limbs, her muscles sluggish as if she'd run for days without stopping.

  "I had overstretched myself just a couple of time in my whole life before I came to this world. What's wrong with me?"

  She stirred, and the faint rustle of fabric made Alliot glance up. He sat cross-legged a few meters away, still as stone, but his sharp gaze immediately locked onto her, assessing, waiting.

  "Ah… You are back," he said. "I decided to wait here. But it took a while."

  "Yeah, it usually takes half-a-day, or so," said Aira. "If it went the same way it happened before."

  "Is it a habit of yours? Passing out?" Alliot asked. "Does that happen often?"

  "Well, it happens sometimes," said Aira. "When I overextend myself. And I really had to find Lila."

  "I hear you did," said Alliot. "Ainorrh got your last message."

  Aira jumped from her bed, the last images and sensations of that meditation surging back from her memory.

  "Yes! Yes, I found her!" she exclaimed. "I have to go. It doesn't seem she is safe. I need to get to her!"

  "Hold on," Alliot stood smoothly, his stance firm. "Ainorrh's coming. We think first, move second."

  "What is there to figure out?" Aira said, pacing the room. "They are four days ahead of us. I've already lost half-a-day here. We won't be able to overtake them even if we go at full speed."

  "A few minutes won't change things," said Alliot. "Ainorrh will be here soon."

  "Alright," sighed Aira. "It would be impolite to leave without seeing her anyway."

  While waiting for Ainorrh, Aira walked around the treehouse and even went outside. Both trying to calm her nerves and saying goodbye to this place. It was a bit strange to see how it had changed in just a few weeks. Both Aira and Lila didn't have much possessions. Lila even fewer, as she had lost her backpack during crossing the river earlier that spring.

  Still, the house was filled with small mementos. Objects they found during their journey and their walk through the ancient city. Some pieces of old pottery they found beautiful and gadgets they would never know the purpose of.

  The area around the house had changed as well. With the permission of Ainorrh, they replanted some flowers to make it a bit more cozy and less sterile. As with any plants growing here in the enlightened city, these flowers took on really well. Much better than Aira and Lila had expected.

  But now… once again, Aira had to leave everything behind. Was it wiser not to get attached to anything? Or even anyone? Will she be able to find Lila safe and sound?

  The whole solo journey sounded like an unsafe and unnecessary endeavor right from the start. But Aira could understand the loneliness Lila felt, living here among people with whom she had no way to communicate. She, as well, was torn away from her community and from her world. Aira perhaps understood better than most what Lila could have felt these past weeks before she left. So, she couldn't blame her for wanting to have at least one more chance to figure things out with her peers. Even if, as it seemed, it didn't go well.

  "Leaving this place feels different," Aira murmured to herself. "But it's not just about the possessions. It's about the memories we've created here. That's what I need to cherish."

  ***

  When Ainorrh finally arrived, Aira was fully prepared for her journey with her backpack filled with gadgets, batteries, and everything she brought to the enlightened city. She and Alliot were waiting outside.

  "I'm not going to stop you," said Ainorrh immediately. "And I know we could have talked even at a distance. But I wanted to be here when you left."

  "Well, I'm grateful for the things I had learned from you," said Aira. "And even more for your help with this… ritual. But I feel like Lila is in more and more danger with each passing minute. I have to go."

  "As I said, I'm not stopping you," Ainorrh said. "I have only one thing to ask of you."

  "And what that may be?" said Aira. "I'd be happy to pay back for your hospitality, but I'm not going to do anything before I get Lila back."

  "No-no-no, nothing like that," said Ainorrh. "On the contrary, I think it will help you to bring Lila back. I'd like to ask you to take Alliot with you."

  Both Aira and Alliot looked at Ainorrh in surprise.

  "Huh? I'm sure I'm quite self-sufficient," said Aira. "No offence, but why do I need him?"

  "A few reasons," said Ainorrh. "First, it's good to have a companion in a journey like that. To use him as a sounding board if you wish, discuss your plans with him."

  "Well, maybe," said Aira. "But it doesn't sound like a reason good enough."

  "He has skills," continued Ainorrh. "He's a good defender. And in the end, he knows this world better then you. Even if he never ventured far from Wentouk. If we don't take his mission to check up on you into account."

  "And what Alliot thinks about it?" asked Aira.

  "I follow the High Shaman's command," said Alliot. "That's my duty."

  "Alright, but what do you want?" asked Aira. "Do you have any personal goals? How would that help you."

  "Surveying humans," said Alliot, but his words sounded more like a question, not a statement. "See them in their habitat. Not many enlightened have a chance."

  "Habitat… Huh…" said Aira. "That's an interesting way to put it."

  "There's one more thing," said Ainorrh. "I'm giving Alliot an artifact that will allow him to reach out to me if anything goes wrong. He's trained to use it, as all our defenders. So, that's why I'm not offering it to you, Aira. And, of course, there are other reasons I'd like him to go. We want to learn more about you. And that's a great opportunity to see you in action. Anyway, if you are thinking about repaying me our hospitality, you can take him just to do that."

  "Alright," said Aira. "I was sold when you spoke about having a partner for this journey. I don't know what I'm even thinking. I've always been a loner. But Lila… she changed me."

  Aira clapped Alliot on his back, making him look at her in astonishment.

  "Let's do that!" she exclaimed. "Let's go! Alliot, are you ready?"

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