The voice faded.
Not because it had finished speaking.
Because reality itself seemed to be listening.
No one inside the forgotten city moved.
Above them, the crystal tree continued to bloom.
Its branches stretched across the sky like rivers of living glass, carrying countless streams of silver light into the darkness beyond the horizon.
The bells rang once more.
This time...
They did not echo.
They answered.
A distant chime replied from somewhere no one could see.
Hope's face turned pale.
"...That's impossible."
Professor Nguyen looked toward the sky.
"What is it?"
She whispered,
"There are other trees."
Silence nodded slowly.
"The First Dawn was never alone."
Khang frowned.
"You mean there were other civilizations?"
Silence looked at him.
"There still are."
The word
