Princess Lenavira brought Max to a place unlike any he had seen in the Elf Kingdom. As they walked through thick layers of ancient trees, the air grew still, unnaturally still—as if the forest itself were holding its breath. Max noticed how far they had come from the bustling heart of the kingdom.
The lush greenery had faded into denser woods, where even the sunlight seemed to hesitate before filtering through. There were no elves here. No animals. Not even the fluttering lights that danced through the air elsewhere in the kingdom.
The silence was heavy, almost sacred. Eventually, they arrived at a small, serene pond nestled in the embrace of twisting roots and moss-covered rocks. Its water was pitch black, yet shimmered faintly with a violet hue when touched by light, like it was hiding something beneath its surface. A soft mist hung over it, cool and quiet, giving the place an eerie calm.
