Chapter 21 Whispers Among The Trees

The forest was quieter than usual that night, but not empty. Every rustle of leaves, every soft snap of a twig carried meaning. Elara felt it in the tips of her fingers, the soles of her feet, the subtle vibration in her chest that had become second nature. The world around her was awake, attentive, and she was its center-not by force, but by prese