It was said that once the world had heard the Refrain, it would never be the same again. And truly, nothing was.
In the weeks that followed the Singing, the lands stirred in ways both wondrous and humbling. Forests that had lain dormant for centuries bloomed anew. Rivers began to carry not only water but resonance—soft vibrations along their current that could be felt by those willing to listen. Entire mountain ranges sang in low, imperceptible tones during twilight, as if echoing the long-missed harmonies of old. The air itself tasted different, richer, infused with sound and spirit.
Eyla stood beneath the reborn Arch of Harmonies, her fingertips grazing the smooth surface of the stone etched with runes that now glowed faintly with each passing breeze. Beside her, Solmere stretched his crystalline wings toward the sky and let out a low, musical hum that stirred birds from their nests.
People had come to call this new era The Crescendo.
