"Well, that wasn't unsettling at all," Leonardo grumbled as we trailed Adriano along a high catwalk, and I silently agreed.
The towering trees surrounding us held ancient carvings etched deep within their trunks, each line humming with an old magic. Despite their hollowed centers, the trees pulsed with life, whispering secrets as we ascended a wooden staircase spiraling upward. Higher and higher we climbed, wrapping around a tree until we emerged onto a platform leading to one of the many houses woven into the forest. The door—a blend of golden hues and deep emeralds—was set directly into the tree, framed by tinted windows that reflected the forest's glow.
"Someone will bring food shortly. Fresh clothes are inside for you," Adriano murmured, leaving Leonardo and me in silence.
The hous
