Chapter 11
Silas's Cryptic Counsel
Elara seeks Silas's aid. He reveals fragments of the forest's ancient magic, speaking of a hidden spring and a ritual that might restore balance. He tests Elara's resolve, ensuring she is worthy of the knowledge.
Elara found Silas just as she’d imagined – nestled in the crook of a fallen oak, his beard a cascade of silver that seemed to have captured moonlight. He looked as ancient and weathered as the forest itself, his eyes like chips of mossy stone, sharp and knowing. She’d followed the faintest of trails, a path less trodden than even the deer seemed to prefer, guided by an instinct that hummed in her veins, a resonance with the deep heartwood of the woods.
“You seek,” he said, his voice a low rumble, like pebbles shifting in a stream. It wasn't a question. He didn't even look up from the intricate knot he was weaving from dried grasses.
Elara stopped, her heart thrumming against her ribs. “I… I seek understanding,” she managed, her voice a little breathy. “About the Pine. About the whispers.”
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