The forest of Verdantis gradually thinned, the trees became shorter, and their blue glow less intense. Silva's whisper remained behind, transforming into a distant rustle at the edge of consciousness. Liara and Daren had been walking for several hours, following the directions of a strange compass that Daren periodically checked against the position of the three moons visible through gaps in the forest canopy.

  "Strange," said Liara, breaking the long silence, "I've never seen three moons in Alcarion's sky."

  Daren raised his head, looking at the celestial bodies through a clearing in the foliage.

  "Each world has its peculiarities," he replied. "Different numbers of moons, stars, even suns. In some worlds, celestial bodies move according to laws that would seem like madness in other realities."

  He fell silent for a moment, then added:

  "In Veyrin, for example, the sun never fully sets. It merely descends to the horizon, painting the sky in blood-red hues, and then begins to rise again. True night comes only during eclipses."

  Liara thoughtfully touched the silver pendant gifted by Silva. It felt warm to the touch and seemed to pulse slightly in rhythm with her heartbeat.

  "I remember that," she said quietly. "The red sky, golden stars... A temple on a mountaintop, with windows positioned to catch the first ray of the rising sun."

  Daren stopped abruptly and turned to her, his eyes flashing with emerald light.

  "You remember the temple?"

  Liara nodded, surprised by his reaction.

  "Yes, after connecting with the part of me in the forest... some memories became clearer. I see the temple, white walls adorned with golden script. A room with a round pool in the center, filled with something that looked like liquid light..."

  "The Halls of Reflection," Daren whispered. "The inner sanctuary of the temple. The place where we..."

  He cut himself off, and a strange expression flickered across his face—a mixture of pain and hope.

  "But you don't remember everything," he said, more a statement than a question.

  "No," Liara answered. "Only fragments. As if I'm looking at a mosaic with most of the pieces missing."

  Daren nodded, as if he had expected such an answer. He looked at the compass again.

  "We're almost there. Elvindar should be beyond the next hill."

  They continued on their way, and soon the forest completely parted, giving way to open space. Before them stretched a wide valley, in the middle of which a city was visible, shining with numerous lights in the gathering twilight.

  "Elvindar," Daren said with a kind of strange reverence. "One of the few cities in Verdantis that welcomes travelers from other worlds."

  The city presented an amazing sight—a mixture of organic architecture and geometric precision. Buildings seemed to grow from the ground, some resembling giant flowers or mushrooms, others—intertwined branches and roots. All of them glowed from within with a soft light of different shades, creating in the twilight the impression of a living organism pulsating with many hearts.

  There were no walls around the city in the traditional sense—instead, tall silvery trees grew along the perimeter, their crowns intertwining into a dome-like structure protecting the city from above.

  "Beautiful," Liara breathed. "And so... unlike Alcarion."

  They began descending the gentle slope toward the city. As they approached, Liara noticed more details—streets paved with glowing stones, bridges between buildings that resembled lianas, and residents moving along these paths.

  "Who lives in Elvindar?" she asked.

  "Mostly people, though their appearance may differ from what you're accustomed to," Daren replied. "Many generations of life in Verdantis have left their mark. There are also dryads—humanoids with plant features, descended from the first humans who merged too closely with Silva's consciousness."

  As they neared the city's outer boundary, Liara noticed a group of guards protecting a passage between two particularly massive silvery trees, which apparently served as gates. The guards—tall beings with pale skin and hair resembling leaves—watched their approach attentively.

  "Follow my lead," Daren said quietly. "Elvindar has its own greeting traditions."

  When they approached the guards, Daren raised his right hand palm forward and slightly inclined his head.

  "I greet you, gate keepers. We are travelers seeking shelter and wisdom in the great Elvindar."

  One of the guards—a woman with silvery-green hair and eyes resembling leaves—stepped forward, studying them with undisguised curiosity.

  "Travelers from beyond the Veil," she said. It was not a question, but a statement. "I sense the scent of other worlds on you."

  She shifted her gaze to Liara, and her green eyes widened slightly.

  "Especially on you, child of many forms. You carry within you the echo of the Ancient One."

  Liara tensed, not knowing how to react to this direct reference to her true nature. Daren almost imperceptibly shook his head, urging her to stay calm.

  "We come in peace," he said. "And with respect for the laws of Verdantis and Elvindar."

  The guard continued to study Liara for another moment, then nodded.

  "Silva has already informed us of your arrival," she said. "You may enter the city. But remember—in Elvindar, there is no place for violence. Any aggression will be suppressed."

  She made a gesture, and the passage between the tree-gates widened, letting them in.

  "Silva informed them about us?" Liara asked quietly as they passed the guards and entered a wide street paved with glowing stones.

  "Don't be surprised," Daren replied just as quietly. "Silva is not just the forest we saw. It's a consciousness permeating all of Verdantis. The plants here are interconnected, even those growing in cities."

  They walked along Elvindar's main street, and Liara couldn't help but cast admiring glances around. The city was full of life—residents went about their business, some traded in small markets, others worked right on the street, creating amazing objects from materials Liara had never seen before.

  Many of the inhabitants looked almost like ordinary people, only with more refined features and slightly glowing skin. But there were clearly non-human beings as well—dryads, as Daren had mentioned, with skin covered in patterns resembling tree bark, and hair like leaves or flowers.

  "Where are we going?" Liara asked, noticing that Daren was purposefully leading them through the city rather than just wandering.

  "To a man named Moss," he answered. "A scientist, a researcher of connections between worlds. If anyone can help us safely reach Veyrin, it's him."

  They turned off the main street onto a narrower path leading up a slope to a building resembling a giant bell flower, turned upside down with its cup facing down. The base of the building was surrounded by a garden with strange plants that seemed to move and turn, tracking visitors' movements.

  "This is his observatory," Daren said, pointing to the building. "Moss studies the stars and the paths between them. He's one of the few locals who truly understands the nature of the Veil and the worlds beyond it."

  They approached the entrance—an arch formed by two intertwined plants with large leaves that slowly parted, allowing them inside.

  The interior of the observatory was much larger than one might have assumed from the outside. The central hall was a circular room with a high dome-shaped ceiling that seemed to be made of living, pulsating tissue. In the center stood a large table covered with books, maps, and strange instruments. And around it, at different levels, were platforms with telescopes, star charts, and crystals emitting soft light.

  At the table sat a man completely absorbed in studying a large map made of some glowing material. He looked elderly but not old—with long gray hair gathered in a complex knot at the back of his head, and a beard that seemed to have small glowing flowers woven into it. His skin had a slight greenish tint, and his eyes were an amazing amethyst color.

  "Moss," Daren called.

  The man raised his head, and his eyes immediately widened in surprise.

  "Walker Between Worlds," he said, and his voice was melodious like the murmur of a brook. "You have returned to Verdantis, despite... previous difficulties."

  He shifted his gaze to Liara, and the surprise on his face was replaced by something akin to reverent awe.

  "And not alone," he continued, rising from the table. "You have brought with you... an unusual guest."

  Moss walked around the table and approached them. Now Liara could see that his clothing consisted of many layers of translucent fabric that shimmered with different colors as he moved.

  "Welcome to my humble home," he said, inclining his head in a slight bow. "I am Moss, observer of stars and explorer of paths."

  "Liara," she introduced herself, deciding for now to omit the details of her unusual nature.

  "Oh, I know who you are," Moss smiled gently. "Silva has been whispering about your arrival. About the meeting at the Silver Tree."

  He made an inviting gesture toward a small area with comfortable chairs formed from living wood.

  "Please sit down. I believe we have much to discuss."

  They settled into the chairs, which surprisingly comfortably adjusted to the shape of their bodies. Moss clapped his hands, and a small glowing sphere descended from the ceiling, hovering above them, providing soft but sufficient light for conversation.

  "So," Moss began when they were settled, "the Walker has returned to Elvindar, and with him—a shard of the Ancient One. An interesting coincidence, considering the omens of recent days."

  "Omens?" Liara repeated.

  Moss nodded, his amethyst eyes sparkling in the light of the hovering sphere.

  "The stars speak of great changes approaching the worlds. The Veil is thinning in places where it should be strong, and strengthening where it should be permeable. The balance is disturbed."

  He shifted his gaze to Daren.

  "But you already know this, don't you? That's why you're here. That's why you brought her."

  Daren leaned forward, his face becoming serious.

  "Moss, we need a safe path to Veyrin. I know you've studied the passages between worlds. I know you can help us."

  Moss thoughtfully stroked his beard, and the small flowers in it glowed slightly.

  "Veyrin... a dangerous choice for travel right now. Especially for you two."

  He turned to Liara.

  "You carry within you part of one who was divided during the last transition. Returning there might... activate certain resonances."

  Liara touched the silver pendant given to her in the forest.

  "Silva said this amulet would help me find the way to what was lost in Veyrin."

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  "Ah," Moss leaned forward, looking at the pendant with interest. "A gift from part to part. May I...?"

  Liara nodded, and Moss carefully took the pendant in his hands without removing it from her neck. His fingers glowed slightly when he touched the silver leaf.

  "Amazing," he whispered. "Silva has embedded in it part of her understanding of paths. This is more than just a pointer. It's... a key."

  He released the pendant and leaned back in his chair, his face becoming thoughtful.

  "I can help you reach Veyrin," he said finally. "But not immediately. Preparations are needed. The red moon must be in the right position relative to the other two. This will happen in two days."

  "Two days," Daren repeated, and Liara heard impatience in his voice. "We can't wait that long. The Guardians might find a way to track us."

  "The Guardians?" Moss raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes. Those who created her new body." He looked carefully at Liara. "Remarkable work, I must admit. Almost perfect combination of organic and inorganic. But with... limitations."

  "You can see this?" Liara was surprised.

  Moss smiled gently.

  "I have been studying the essence of things for a very long time, child. What is hidden from ordinary eyes is often visible to those who know where to look."

  He turned back to Daren.

  "You speak of the Guardians from Alcarion. They are dangerous adversaries, but their capabilities are limited. They cannot enter Verdantis by normal means—Silva won't allow it. And their tracking artifacts only work in their home world and those closest to it."

  "But they might find a way," Daren insisted. "They are resourceful and persistent. Especially when it comes to... shards."

  Moss sighed, and the sound was like the rustling of leaves.

  "Two days is the minimum necessary for a safe passage. Veyrin is unlike other worlds. Its physics are... capricious. One can only enter it under certain conditions, otherwise the portal might send you anywhere... or tear you apart."

  At these words, Liara felt an internal tremor. This is exactly what happened to her last time—her essence was torn between worlds during an unsuccessful transition. The memory of it, though fragmentary, caused her almost physical pain.

  Daren seemed to sense her discomfort. He gave her a quick glance, and the expression on his face softened.

  "All right," he said to Moss. "Two days. But no more."

  Moss nodded.

  "During this time, I will prepare everything necessary for a safe transition. And I advise you to rest and recover your strength." He looked at Liara. "Especially you, child of many forms. Your energy is... unstable after meeting with Silva. You need time to integrate new memories and abilities."

  He stood up and approached one of the walls, which parted at his approach, revealing a passage to another room.

  "You can stay here. My observatory is protected from prying eyes and ears. Even Silva respects my personal space."

  He pointed to the passage.

  "There are guest rooms there. Rest. Tomorrow, when the red moon rises, we will begin preparations for the transition."

  Daren rose and bowed slightly.

  "Thank you, Moss. Your help is invaluable."

  "Don't thank me prematurely, Walker," Moss replied with a slight smile. "The stars speak of difficulties ahead. But also of opportunities. Perhaps that's why they brought you here... at the right time."

  He turned and went back to his table, clearly considering the conversation over. Daren gestured for Liara to follow him through the opened passage.

  The guest rooms turned out to be cozy little spaces, separated from each other by living walls of intertwined plants. Each had a bed formed from something like moss, but denser and more resilient, a small table, and a pitcher of incredibly clear water.

  "Rest," Daren said when they entered the first room. "Moss is right. You need time to get accustomed to the new memories."

  Liara sat on the edge of the bed, feeling sudden fatigue. The events of the past few days—awakening in the golem body, escaping from the temple, journeying through the Borderlands, meeting a part of herself in the forest of Verdantis—all of it weighed on her like a heavy burden.

  "And you?" she asked, looking at Daren.

  "I'll be nearby," he pointed to the adjacent room. "If you need anything, just call."

  He had already turned to leave when Liara suddenly asked:

  "Daren... what happened in the temple of Veyrin? That time when we tried to open the portal?"

  He froze, his back to her. Even without seeing his face, Liara could feel the tension that gripped his body.

  "I... made a mistake," he said quietly. "Miscalculated the coordinates for the transition. Or perhaps the stars weren't in the right position. Or..." he paused, "or a part of you resisted. Didn't want to leave."

  He turned to her, and in his green eyes Liara saw deep, long-standing pain.

  "When the portal opened, it was unstable. The energy of the transition... it tore you apart. Your soul, your essence. Part disappeared, part remained in Veyrin, part... part ended up in Alcarion, where it was eventually found by the Guardians."

  He came closer and knelt before her, looking into her eyes.

  "You in Veyrin were a priestess of the temple. You recognized me, though centuries had passed since our last meeting. You helped me understand the nature of the shards better than anyone before you. And you... you agreed to come with me. To find other parts of yourself."

  His voice became almost a whisper.

  "I didn't expect that the portal could divide you even further. Wasn't prepared for it. And when it happened... I lost you again. And a part of me died with you."

  Liara looked at this ancient man, tormented by pain, who had spent centuries trying to fix what he considered his mistake. Part of her wanted to reach out, comfort him. Another part—to distance herself, remind herself that, although she carried a particle of the woman he loved, she was not the same person.

  But before she could decide what to do, the silver pendant on her neck suddenly glowed with a bright, almost blinding light.

  "What..." was all she managed to say before the light enveloped her, and the world around her disappeared.

  She stood on a mountaintop, looking at the red sky of Veyrin. The temple behind her was snow-white, with golden domes reflecting the light of the never-setting sun. She was dressed in a long white priestess robe with golden patterns along the edges.

  "You've returned," she said without turning around. "So many years have passed."

  "For me—significantly more," replied a male voice behind her. Daren's voice, but younger, less tired.

  She turned and saw him—tall, with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing traveler's clothes, tattered from a long journey. His green eyes glowed with the same power as now, but there was less pain in them, fewer disappointments.

  "I searched for you in many worlds," he said, taking a step toward her. "Found traces of your presence in twelve realities. But in none did you recognize me... until now."

  "I remember you," she said softly, reaching out and touching his cheek. "Not everything and not always. But enough to know—you are the one I've been waiting for."

  His face softened, and in his eyes appeared a light that Liara had never seen in the present Daren—a light of pure, unclouded hope.

  "Then you know why I'm here?" he asked, covering her hand with his.

  "To find a way to restore what was destroyed," she answered. "To gather the shards of Eon. To return balance to the worlds."

  He nodded but hesitated before asking the next question:

  "And you? What do you want, Liara?"

  She looked away, gazing at the horizon where the red sky merged with purple mountains.

  "I am no longer the Liara you knew at the tower five hundred years ago," she said quietly. "I have lived many lives, in different forms, with different memories. Part of me wants to become whole again. But another part..."

  "Fears losing herself," he finished for her.

  She nodded, looking into his eyes again.

  "If all the shards reunite, who will I become? Liara from the tower? Eon? Something entirely different? And will I retain memories of the lives I've lived after the division?"

  Daren took her hands, his gaze serious and sincere.

  "I don't know," he answered honestly. "Nobody knows. Such a thing has never happened before. But I swear to you—whatever you decide, I will support your choice. If you want to remain as you are—I will be by your side. If you want to seek other shards—I will help you. All I want... is to be part of your story again. In any form you choose."

  She smiled, and in that smile was a shadow of the Liara who stood with him on the tower five centuries ago.

  "Then lead me, Daren Vultar. Show me the path to other parts of myself. And together we will decide what to do next."

  He raised her hands to his lips in a gesture full of reverence and love.

  "As you wish, my lady."

  The scene changed, blurring and flowing into a new one. Now they were inside the temple, in a circular room with a pool filled with luminous liquid. Around the pool, crystals were arranged in a complex pattern.

  "The portal should open here," Daren was saying, pointing to the center of the pool. "When all three moons of Veyrin align, the Veil will become thinner. We will be able to pass into Verdantis, where I sensed the presence of another shard."

  Liara-priestess stood beside him, her white robes replaced with a more practical traveler's outfit similar to his own.

  "And if something goes wrong?" she asked. "Veyrin... it doesn't release its children easily."

  Daren took from his bag a silver key—the same one he used to open portals now.

  "This artifact has accompanied me through dozens of worlds," he said. "It stabilizes the transition. With it, we will be safe."

  Liara-priestess approached the pool and lowered her hand into the glowing liquid. Ripples passed across the surface, as if the liquid responded to her touch.

  "I'm ready," she said, turning to Daren. "When will the alignment of the moons begin?"

  He looked up, through the transparent dome crowning the room, at the sky where all three moons of Veyrin had already appeared—red, blue, and silver.

  "Very soon," he replied, and barely contained excitement sounded in his voice. "We should take our positions."

  But something changed in the atmosphere. The light in the room began to pulse, and the liquid in the pool started to bubble, though no one was touching it.

  "Something's wrong," Daren frowned, looking at his key, which began to vibrate in his hand. "The alignment shouldn't have started yet..."

  Liara-priestess looked at him with sudden understanding and fear in her eyes.

  "It's not the alignment," she whispered. "It's the temple's reaction. It's... resisting."

  "Resisting?" Daren turned to her, incomprehension on his face giving way to alarm. "But why?"

  "Because I am a guardian," she answered, and her voice became strangely detached. "A priestess sworn to protect Veyrin. And now I'm about to leave it..."

  Suddenly everything around them began to shake, as if in an earthquake. The crystals around the pool glowed with a dangerous red light, and the liquid inside swirled into a vortex.

  "Daren!" cried Liara-priestess, reaching out to him. "We must stop the ritual! It's too dangerous!"

  But it was too late. The silver key in Daren's hand flashed, emitting a beam of light that connected with the center of the vortex. The portal began to open—but not smoothly as before, rather in jerks, as if tearing the very fabric of reality.

  "Liara!" Daren rushed to her, trying to grab her hand, but the power of the portal had already begun to pull her in.

  "I can't..." her voice sounded strange, as if it came from afar. "The temple won't let me go..."

  Her body began to glow from within, her skin became translucent, and through it was visible a bright light—the essence of the shard trying to break free from its physical shell.

  "No!" shouted Daren, still trying to reach her. "Hold on! I'll close the portal!"

  But it was too late. With a blinding flash of light, Liara-priestess's body disintegrated into numerous glowing particles. Most of them disappeared into the portal, carried away by the force of the transition. But some remained, scattered throughout the temple like fireflies on a summer night.

  And Daren was left alone, on his knees at the edge of the pool, his face distorted with horror and despair, his hands still stretched out to where she had just been...

  The vision ended as abruptly as it had begun. Liara found herself lying on the bed in the guest room of Moss's observatory, and Daren was leaning over her, his face distorted with anxiety.

  "Liara!" he was holding her by the shoulders, carefully shaking her. "Can you hear me? Are you all right?"

  She blinked, trying to focus her gaze. The pendant on her neck was still glowing faintly, but not as brightly as before.

  "I saw..." she whispered, trying to gather her thoughts. "The temple in Veyrin. Us... you and me—the priestess. The portal that went wrong..."

  Daren froze, his hands on her shoulders tensed.

  "You saw what happened," he said quietly. "What I didn't tell you."

  Liara sat up on the bed, her head still spinning from the intensity of the vision.

  "It wasn't your fault," she said, looking into his eyes. "The temple was resisting. It didn't want to let its priestess go."

  Daren looked away, and Liara saw his shoulders sag, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from them.

  "I... suspected something like that," he said. "But wasn't sure. And part of me always thought that if I had been more careful, calculated everything more precisely..."

  "You couldn't have known," Liara said gently. "And she... I... didn't know either. We were both unprepared for the temple's reaction."

  She reached out and touched his cheek, repeating the gesture from the vision. Daren froze, his eyes widening in surprise.

  "But now we know," she continued. "And when we return to Veyrin, we'll be prepared. We'll find that part of me that remained there, and this time we'll do everything right."

  Daren looked at her with an expression she couldn't fully decipher—a mixture of hope, fear, gratitude, and something else, deeper.

  "You... still want to go there?" he asked. "After what you've seen?"

  Liara nodded, surprised by her own determination.

  "Now more than ever," she replied. "That part of me has waited five centuries. I can't leave her alone, knowing I can help."

  Daren covered her hand with his, still resting on his cheek.

  "You're amazing," he said quietly. "In every life, in every form... you always find a way to surprise me with your strength."

  Liara felt something inside her respond to these words—not just an emotion, but a deep connection, an echo of relationships that had existed for centuries, even if fragmentarily, intermittently.

  The moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside. Daren quickly released her hand and stepped back, just as the curtain of leaves serving as a door parted, and Moss appeared in the doorway.

  "I apologize for the intrusion," he said, his amethyst eyes glinting in the half-darkness of the room, "but I felt a surge of energy. Something... happened?"

  Daren and Liara exchanged glances.

  "The pendant," said Liara, touching the silver leaf that still glowed faintly. "It showed me a vision. About what happened in the temple of Veyrin during the last transition."

  Moss came closer, his face expressing deep interest.

  "Interesting... it seems Silva embedded more in this gift than we thought. Not just memory, but the ability to activate memories under certain conditions."

  He carefully examined the pendant without touching it.

  "This could be very useful for your journey. But also... potentially dangerous."

  "Dangerous?" Liara asked.

  "Such intense visions can affect the balance of energies in your body," Moss explained. "Especially considering its... unnatural origin. I would advise caution."

  He turned to Daren.

  "Perhaps we should accelerate preparations for the transition. If her connection with the shard in Veyrin is strengthening, it's better not to delay."

  Daren nodded, his face becoming serious again.

  "How much time do you need?"

  "I can start now," Moss replied. "By the dawn of the second day, everything will be ready. But you both still need rest. Especially her."

  He turned, about to leave, but stopped at the doorway.

  "And one more thing," he said without turning around. "A strange visitor has appeared in the city. Arrived shortly before you. He's been asking about travelers from beyond the Veil."

  Daren instantly tensed.

  "What does he look like?"

  "A young man, blue eyes, keeps himself aloof," Moss answered. "Introduced himself as a researcher of rare artifacts. But there's something about him... inconsistent with that role."

  "Elric," Daren whispered, and Liara felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of this name.

  "The Magister of the Guardians?" she clarified. "But how could he get here? You said Silva doesn't allow Guardians into Verdantis."

  "If he found a way to mask his essence... or made some kind of deal," Daren grimly replied. "In any case, this changes everything. We can't wait two days."

  Moss nodded.

  "I will expedite the preparations as much as possible. But we still need the right astronomical conditions for a safe transition."

  He looked at Liara, and a strange expression appeared in his eyes—a mixture of sympathy and anxiety.

  "Rest, child of many forms. You will need your strength soon. For the path to Veyrin will not be easy... especially for one who has already been torn apart by its power."

  And with these words, he disappeared behind the curtain of leaves, leaving Liara and Daren alone with troubling thoughts about the pursuer who seemed to have found a way to follow them through worlds, and about the impending return to a world that had once torn Liara apart.

  In the twilight of Elvindar, three moons rose above the horizon—blue, silver, and red. They were reflected in the windows and pools of the city, creating a whimsical play of light and shadow. And somewhere in these shadows lurked a man with blue eyes, searching for traces of fugitives from Alcarion, carrying with him a threat they could only guess at.