The flower seemed to breathe.
Small, delicate, born from the burst of light that replaced the corrupted stain.Its petals were translucent, like moonlit glass.And at its center, a faint glow pulsed—like a sleeping heart.
Ren knelt before it.A gentle breeze swirled around him, soft and almost reverent.
Draven tilted his head.— "It's just a flower… right?"
Borin snorted.— "If it were 'just' a flower, it wouldn't have come out of dead shadow."
Lyra approached slowly.The wind curled around her feet, curious, listening.
— "Ren… you can feel it, can't you?"
He could.
The flower held pure spiritual energy… but something else too.Something that responded to his staff, as if they were made from the same invisible fabric of the world.
Ren extended his hand.The flower bent slightly toward him.
A touch—soft as fresh snow.
[Spiritual Object Detected: White Spirit Flower][Classification: ???][State: Newly Awakened]
Ren swallowed.
— "…it's alive."
🕊️ The Flower's Voice
When his fingers brushed the petal, a white flash crossed his vision.A whisper appeared in his mind—different from the corrupted voice of the stain.
It was gentle.Calm.Ancient.
"Growth is born from balance.""Protection is born from unity.""Cycles are born from sacrifice."
Ren pulled back with a sharp breath.
Lyra steadied him.— "Ren! Are you alright?"
He nodded quickly.— "It… it spoke to me."
Draven took two steps back.— "Great. A talking flower. Sure. Why not."
Borin smacked the back of his head.— "Shut it. This is serious."
Ren looked at the flower again.— "It isn't an entity. Not exactly. It's a fragment."
Lyra frowned.— "A fragment of what?"
Ren closed his eyes, choosing the words carefully.
— "A fragment of a forest spirit."
🌿 The Forgotten Spirit
They sat around the flower in a small circle.Its soft glow seemed to shine differently on each of them.
Ren began explaining:
— "The Forest of Tianyu isn't normal. It was sleeping. Our purification… woke it just a little."
Borin nodded.— "Old forests always have guardians. Most fall asleep after centuries."
Draven eyed the flower skeptically.— "So this is like a baby guardian?"
Borin laughed.— "A baby guardian… good one."
Ren smiled faintly.— "Not exactly. Guardians aren't born like this. This is more like… a seed."
Lyra traced her fingers across the ground.— "So… we awakened it?"
Ren nodded.— "All of us. When our synergy combined to cleanse the stain, we formed a spiritual link with the forest."
[Guild Spiritual Link Strengthened][Affinity with the Forest of Tianyu +10]
Borin's expression hardened.— "But every link has a price. If the forest acknowledges you… it'll call you to its battles."
Ren knew he was right.And the responsibility pressed heavier on his chest.
🌙 The Night of New Light
As night fell, the flower shone more intensely.Threads of white light drifted upward from it like stardust, spreading across the clearing.
Lyra stared in awe.— "Ren… it's cleansing the air."— "Yes," Ren whispered. "It's purifying the mana around us."
Draven yawned but didn't take his eyes off the flower.— "You know… it's beautiful. Not like anything I've ever seen."
Borin grumbled.— "Beautiful and dangerous. Old things love dressing danger up in flowers."
Ren moved closer.The flower shivered—as if recognizing him.
"We grow together."
Ren's eyes widened.The voice was faint, nearly fading—but real.
— "It's learning," he murmured.
Lyra smiled softly.— "Then we're not alone."
Ren looked at his companions.At the light of the flower.At the forest breathing with them.
— "No. We never were."
✦ [Status Window – Immortal Guild]
Event Recorded: Emergence of the White Spirit FlowerState: Active – GrowingFunction: Natural Purification of Area (Lv.1, increasing)
Temporary Effects:
Mana regeneration +12% within the base
Reduced spiritual corruption within 1 km
Increased affinity with the forest
Affected Members:
Ren Tianyi — direct connection established
Lyra Sylwen — enhanced wind sensitivity
Draven Ignis — stabilized flame
Borin Ironhammer — increased spiritual resistance
Guild Base: 41%Status: Flower growing – forest awakening