The rosemary oil incident hung between Elara and Lyra like an unspoken accusation. Lyra resumed her lessons without comment, but the silence felt heavier than any reprimand. Elara's movements were stiff, her focus fractured by a persistent sense of failure. She tried to mimic Lyra's precise actions, but her hands trembled, and she fumbled with the herbs.
"You are thinking too much," Lyra said abruptly, observing Elara's struggle with preparing a poultice for aching joints. "Feel the plant. Understand its essence. Don't merely follow instructions."
Elara closed her eyes, attempting to heed Lyra's words. She inhaled deeply, trying to discern more than just the scent of comfrey and willow bark. She focused on the texture of the leaves between her fingers, the subtle vibrations that seemed to hum beneath her skin. A fleeting image flashed through her mind – a vision of gnarled roots twisting deep within the earth, drawing sustenance from an unseen source.
The vision vanished as quickly as it came, leaving Elara disoriented and frustrated. "I... I don't understand," she whispered.
Lyra sighed, a sound that seemed to carry centuries of weariness. "Understanding comes with practice. And patience." She pointed towards a small, overgrown patch behind the cottage. "Tend to the Moonbloom garden. It requires constant care. Perhaps nurturing life will help you find your own."
The Moonbloom garden was Lyra's pride and joy – a secluded haven filled with rare and delicate flowers that bloomed only under the moonlight. Elara had never been allowed near it before, and she felt a surge of both excitement and trepidation as she entered its shadowed embrace.
As she began to weed and water the plants, a sense of calm settled over her. The scent of night-blooming jasmine filled the air, soothing her frayed nerves. She noticed details she'd never seen before – the intricate patterns on the petals, the delicate veins that pulsed with life.
Suddenly, another vision struck her, stronger than any she'd experienced before. This time, it wasn't a fleeting image but a vivid scene: A grand hall filled with shimmering light and music, Sylvani figures dancing beneath a canopy of stars. She saw herself among them, younger, carefree, laughing with a joy that felt both familiar and distant. The vision ended abruptly, leaving her breathless and disoriented.
"What... what was that?" she gasped, clutching at the trunk of a Moonbloom tree for support.
A voice startled her. "The past is not always silent, child."
It was Old Maeve, the village healer, who had appeared silently behind her. Maeve was known throughout Oakhaven for her wisdom and her connection to the old ways. She rarely ventured beyond the village limits, so Elara was surprised to see her here.
"You saw them," Maeve said softly, her eyes filled with a knowing sadness. "The Sylvani. They are not merely legends, as you may have been told."
Elara nodded, still reeling from the vision. "I… I'm seeing things. Visions. Lyra says they're echoes of the past."
Maeve smiled gently. "Echoes, yes. But also warnings. The Sylvani were guardians of Eldoria, protectors against a darkness that sleeps beneath the earth. A darkness that is stirring once more." She paused, her gaze fixed on Elara's face. "You are connected to them, child. Your grandmother knew it. That's why she sent you here."
"My grandmother?" Elara asked, confused. "She never spoke of this."
"Some truths are best kept hidden until the time is right," Maeve replied cryptically. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden pendant – shaped like a stylized leaf. "This belonged to your ancestor, Lyria Sylvani. Wear it. It will help you remember."
Elara took the pendant, its smooth surface cool against her skin. As she held it, another wave of images flooded her mind - fragmented memories of a life she never lived, a heritage she had forgotten. She saw glimpses of ancient rituals, whispered prophecies, and a looming threat that hung over the Sylvani kingdom.
"The Mist is growing stronger," Maeve said, her voice laced with urgency. "Lord Valerius's actions are not merely political maneuvering. He seeks to awaken something… something dangerous." She looked at Elara intently. "You must learn to control your visions, child. Eldoria's fate may depend on it."
Before Elara could ask another question, Maeve vanished as silently as she had appeared, leaving her alone in the Moonbloom garden, clutching the Sylvani pendant and grappling with a truth far greater than she could have ever imagined.