Chapter 15: The Unseen Depths( A MAGICAL WORLD BELOW THE EARTH )

Chapter 15: The Unseen Depths

The shards pulsed faintly in unison as Rhea, Mira, and Kiran sat in their small camp near the cavern’s entrance. They had returned to the surface only a few days ago, but the connection to the Luminal Realm tugged at them constantly, pulling their thoughts back underground.

Mira turned her shard over in her hands, watching the faint light dance across its surface. “Selan said the Heartstone was whole again, but I think it left something out. There’s more down there. More that we didn’t see.”

“I’ve been feeling it too,” Rhea admitted. “Like the Luminal Realm isn’t done with us.”

Kiran leaned back against a rock, his shard glowing faintly from its place on a cord around his neck. “Not to be the voice of reason—because, let’s face it, that’s usually Mira—but didn’t Selan say this was about protecting both worlds? Maybe we’re supposed to look for threats up here, not go spelunking for more mysteries.”

Before either could reply, Rhea’s shard flared suddenly, and Mira’s and Kiran’s followed suit. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, and a faint image formed in the space between their shards: a glowing, intricate symbol that resembled a tree with branching roots reaching into darkness.

“What is that?” Rhea whispered, her voice tinged with awe.

“I’ve seen something like it before,” Mira said, her brow furrowed in thought. “It’s an ancient symbol, used to represent life and balance… but also something hidden. Something buried.”

Kiran sat up, his shard’s glow brightening. “So the Luminal Realm is calling us back. Great. I hope it doesn’t have another set of creepy tests waiting.”

The symbol pulsed once, and the trio felt a pull, as though the very ground beneath them was calling. Without another word, they began packing their things.