Valon's wings ached as he flew. Each beat trembled as his fatigue and anxiety grew by the minute. The sky stretched endlessly above, yet his eyes showed a weariness that wasn't from mere physical effort. The weight of his discoveries and their implications were burdens he hadn't expected to carry.

Over the past few weeks, his reconnaissance mission had taken him much further than what he thought necessary. Each discovery both intrigued and alarmed him. The first of his locations was again to the destroyed city of Branside. Amid the ruins, the massive magical crystal thrived, its heart interwoven with an immense tree. Its ever-expanding boundaries pulsated with an unfamiliar magic, growing and glowing, without a clear source or intention.

His mother's orders then led him south then west, past the Branside River, to the fringe of Outreach. Once a bustling town of trade, it was now an echo of its former self with not a soul in sight. But the town's derelict state wasn't what troubled Valon. It was the cracks. They weren't just on the surface of the barren soil, but deep fissures that seemed to penetrate the bedrock itself. These jagged lines didn’t look fresh, instead appearing aged as if they were secrets from the past suddenly revealed to the present. A sickness of the land that grew deep.

Valon searched from high above, scanning the land below. The once vibrant traces of human life had gone, and in their stead, the remnants of Swine marked their retreat. The evidence pointed to the desperation of the Swine. Their retreat seemed driven, almost frantic, in their attempts to cross the expansive Branside river to the north.

Hovering in the air, Valon muttered to himself, "Why such desperation?"

A whispering breeze seemed to reply, carrying tales of the land. "Both humans and Swine want to flee this scarred terrain.”

As he contemplated, the weight of his mission pressed upon him. Whatever the reasons, Valon knew he must delve deeper to understand.

Following the magical border the crystal created, Valon trailed to the northwest and over another abandoned town Turtin with a similar story to tell. Everywhere he went, the landscape whispered the same tale—hidden, ancient cracks were being unveiled. Deep in the heart of the Felren lands to the north, the soil told a particularly worrying tale. Their homelands stood divided, one half protected by the crystal's magic, while the other seemed scarred and fractured, overflowing with scars as the land itself fought against its own weight resulting in landslides and upheavals.

Each dip and curve of the landscape below revealed new sets of jagged scars on the land.

What could have caused these? he pondered, anxiety gnawing at his thoughts.

With every new fissure he spotted, his heartbeat quickened, a growing dread intertwining with his curiosity. The cracks weren't just physical distortions on the land; they tore at the fabric of his understanding, challenging what he knew of the world and its balance.

Days melded into nights, and weeks flashed by. With each discovery, Valon's concern grew. Was the crystal the culprit behind these scars on the land? Or, even more worrying, was it somehow acting as a barrier, preventing an even worse calamity from tearing the world apart? The weight of the unknown bore down on him with every flap of his wings weighed down by growing trepidation.

Battling the strong headwinds, he rounded a bend and his gaze fell upon the shoreline. The salty tang of the ocean had teased his senses earlier, but now Valon could see the beachside village expanding in front of him. It wasn't the same quiet village he remembered.

Swooping down, Valon marvelled at the village's transformation. The once quant town now featured towering multi-story farms within the barricade walls. The introduction of the Sorina farmers had cause quite the stir expanding the towns borders and sending ripples of innovation throughout its foundations.

Valo was astonished to find that their combined efforts had resulted in the new farms, turning the village into a vertical forest of cascading green vegetables, cleverly using the green-walled defences for support and space.

Landing gracefully within the top floor of the Heart building, Valon reverted to his human form, spotting Farlen engaged in conversation with two unfamiliar faces. He approached them cautiously, taking note of the friendly exchange between the humans.

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"Valon," Farlen greeted him warmly. "Been a while. Meet Arthur and Rose. They've been instrumental in implementing these new techniques." He gestured to the town in general.

Valon nodded politely, extending a hand. "Pleasure. I must say, the village has changed quite a bit."

Rose chuckled, "For the better, I hope."

Valon smiled, "Indeed. I say Brancourt could benefit from such techniques. From what I hear from my brother, they have a surplus of tools and supplies there, but nothing to feed their people."

Farlen's eyes sparkled with an idea. "Then why not set up a trade? Now that the threat of the monarchy is gone, we can modify our vessels to transport some goods. The city gets fresh produce from us, and we get the supplies we need. It's a win-win."

Rose nodded enthusiastically. "We've been keen to establish a trade. With the new farming techniques, our yield has been well, crazy."

Valon considered the proposition. "It's a sound plan. From what I hear the city would welcome the help, especially now."

Farlen eyed Valon intently. "You didn't come all this way just for trade talks," he observed, a touch of concern evident in his voice. "You look exhausted."

Valon could feel the weight of his fatigue bearing down on him. Nodding, he replied, "It's been...eventful."

Farlen motioned to one of the living chairs nearby, a sight of green, organically moulded metal, that seamlessly grew to form a welcoming seat. "Have a rest."

Valon sank into it, the material adjusting to his form, providing a perfect fit. "Thanks.” He paused for a moment in thought. “Where is Akana?”

"Ah, she's currently out inspecting the vertical fields,” Farlen explained. “That’s one of Roses’ ideas.”

Rose smiled, a touch of modesty in her eyes. "Our ideas meshed well. It's been quite a journey, merging Sorina farming techniques with what we had here."

Listening, Valon admired their progress, yet he couldn't shake the dire findings from his mind. "Have you noticed any... irregularities in the land around here?" he ventured, choosing his words carefully.

Farlen frowned, "Like what?"

"Like cracks," Valon replied, his gaze intense. "Deep fissures that seem to split the ground."

Rose and Arthur exchanged glances, clearly puzzled.

Farlen responded, "No, we've seen no such thing. Why?"

Valon hesitated for a moment, before diving into his explanation, detailing his findings as he travelled the landscape. The room grew tense as he spoke, the implications of his discoveries settling in.

"I've been monitoring the magical crystal in the ruins of Branside," Valon continued, his voice low and cautious. "Its rapid growth and emanating energy is... disconcerting. The matriarch believes its purpose isn’t merely to grow or to leak power."

Arthur frowned. "What do you mean? We've seen its effects; the area around it flourishes like never before. Isn't that a good thing?"

Valon hesitated before replying, "It's not about the effects we can see but the intent we cannot. Think of the crystal as a vessel, steadily charging up. It's not growing for growth's sake; it's preparing for... something. But what that 'something' is remains uncertain."

Rose's face paled at the implication. "So, you're saying it could be a threat?"

Valon nodded slowly. "Potentially. Though we can't jump to conclusions. My task is to study it, to understand its purpose, and to ensure that whatever it’s preparing for doesn’t bring harm to our lands or our people."

Farlen's thoughts raced. The village's prosperity and establishing an alliance with the city were essential, but so was understanding and potentially countering any threat the crystal posed.

"We must act with caution," Farlen finally said. "Valon, you have our full support in your endeavours. If the crystal is a threat, we must know."

Valon looked grateful. "Thank you, Farlen. While I delve into the mystery of the crystal, I hope the trade alliance will keep our spirits high and our hopes alive."

⚔

The Heart building was aptly named. It was the core of the village, a warm sanctuary where life pulsed, and the weary found solace. The walls of the structure, like the rest of the village, were made of living green, their surfaces emitting a soft, calming metallic glow. Here, Valon took a much-needed respite. The subtle hum of the Elementlet’s energy, combined with the soft lullabies of the ocean, allowed him to rest deeply, rejuvenating his tired body, mind, and soul.

By morning, the first rays of dawn filtered through the Heart building, casting dappled shadows on its inhabitants. Valon awoke, the weight of his findings and the urgency of his mission renewed in his mind. Farlen found him at the break of dawn, standing by the edge to the topmost veranda of the Heart building, preparing for flight.

"You're off already?" Farlen asked, not surprised, but still sounding disappointed.

Valon nodded, "I must relay what I've found to my people, and then to Karn in Brancourt. The Book of the Known might be our only hope to understand and counteract the sickness of the land."

Farlen clasped his shoulder. "Then may the winds favour your journey, old friend."

Valon gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Farlen. Take care of this place."

Without another word, Valon took to the skies, his silhouette quickly blending with the horizon. The mission ahead was of paramount importance, and time, as always, was of the essence.