Emma tilted her head as she studied the vibrant bird perched on her lap. “Where I’m heading? Hmm... Why do you want to know?” A playful smile tugged at her lips, her curiosity mirrored in her glowing eyes.

Redi blinked, tilting his head like a thoughtful child. “You’re the first human I’ve ever spoken to. I’m just... curious,” he admitted, his voice soft yet tinged with wonder.

Emma chuckled at his honesty. “Well, my mom and I are on our way to the royal bookstore opening in Eldo-Clearoth Kingdom. Do you know it?”

Redi shook his crimson-feathered head. “No, I’ve never heard of it. But it sounds like a wonderful place.”

Emma nodded, glancing outside at the passing forest. “I haven’t been there either, but I’ve heard it’s magnificent. I can’t wait to see it.”

As the thought of the wyverns loomed once again in her mind, Emma’s smile faded. She turned back to Redi. “Do you know anything about wyverns?”

The bird tilted his head again, his glowing eyes reflecting the soft light filtering through the trees. “Wyverns? No, I don’t. I’ve only been alive for a few weeks,” he admitted.

“A few weeks?” Emma repeated, her brows rising in astonishment. “That’s not long at all.”

Before she could probe further, a melodious harmony drifted through the air. The Fettocks flying outside had begun to sing again, their voices like a hauntingly beautiful choir of humans blending seamlessly with the sounds of nature. Redi glanced toward them, his gaze lingering for a moment before turning back to Emma.

“I have to go now,” he said gently.

Emma’s heart sank as she nodded. “Take care, Redi.”

The bird spread his vibrant wings and took flight, joining his flock as they soared toward a mountain peak. There, nestled against the jagged cliffside, stood an extraordinary tree. Its gnarled branches were adorned with glowing leaves, each shimmering like tiny shards of emerald. It resembled an almond tree but exuded an almost otherworldly aura.

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Emma leaned closer to the window, captivated by what unfolded next. The Fettocks began perching on the tree, hanging upside down with their long, feathered tails wrapped snugly around its branches. At first, the scene seemed almost whimsical, but then something strange happened.

One by one, the birds began to glow, their radiance intensifying until their forms blurred and shifted. To Emma’s astonishment, the Fettocks transformed into luminous fruits, their glowing forms now dotting the tree like jewels.

Her chest tightened, a mixture of awe and sorrow flooding her. She instinctively turned to her mother, her eyes silently pleading for an explanation.

Vivian’s gaze softened as she noticed Emma’s troubled expression. She adjusted her glasses before speaking, her voice quiet but firm. “Fettocks may appear to be colorful birds, but their lives serve a greater purpose. From the moment they hatch, they are destined to nourish the forest. They feed, mate, and lay eggs like ordinary birds, but after just a few weeks, they return to the Fettock tree. There, they merge with it, becoming fruits that provide vital nutrients. These nutrients are then distributed to the surrounding forest, ensuring its prosperity.”

Vivian paused, her tone tinged with reverence. “Legend has it that Fettocks are the salvation of the forest. Without them, no forest could thrive. And without the tree, the Fettocks themselves would wither and die. Each plays a role in maintaining balance, no matter how fleeting their lives may seem.”

Emma’s throat tightened, and she turned her gaze back to the tree. The luminous fruits swayed gently in the breeze, casting soft, kaleidoscopic reflections across the mountainside. “Why does their life have to end like this?” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

To her, the brief, vibrant existence of the Fettocks felt like a dream, while their true purpose seemed bound to their transformation into the tree’s fruits. It was a bittersweet truth that weighed heavily on her.

She slumped back into her seat, a deep sadness settling over her. As she stared out at the distant horizon, the skies above began to darken, heavy clouds rolling in with the promise of rain.

The carriage slowed, the rhythmic clatter of its wheels now muted against the hush that had fallen over the landscape. The driver’s voice cut through the stillness, low and serious.

“We’ve arrived at the Dome of Wyverns,” he announced, his tone laced with caution. “From here on, until we pass through, you must remain silent. Speak only in whispers, if you must.”

Emma’s heart began to pound, her pulse quickening at the weight of his words. The very name of the place sent a shiver down her spine, and now, it loomed before them.

They had arrived at the Dome of Wyverns.