The gates of Virencia stood tall behind them, but it was what lay ahead that took the breath away from both Luke and Ilyrana. Barely a quarter of an hour's walk from the capital, the earth seemed to sigh into softness—a sea of colors blooming out across gentle hills like a painted dream. The field stretched endlessly, kissed by the morning sun, dotted with hues of violet, gold, and blush pink. A breeze danced through the meadow, setting the flowers into motion, and the air carried a scent so fresh it could make one forget there was ever such a thing as sorrow.
Luke slowed his steps, his eyes widening slightly at the sight.
He'd seen many things since arriving in this world. Wonders that defied explanation, marvels built by both magic and man. But this… this wasn't something to conquer, or replicate, or fix. It just was. Untouched. Alive. Real.
And yet, the longer he stared, the more his smile wavered.
