The atmosphere within the Stone Courtyard pulsed with a rare warmth, one born not of temperature but of spirit. The trees shimmered faintly under the dappled light of the forest canopy, their leaves rustling in lazy waves as if murmuring secrets to one another. Today was no ordinary day.
The spiritual fruit banquet was about to begin.
With Noctyss, Alexandria, and Boar lending their hands—or limbs—the courtyard had undergone a small transformation. Vines of delicate forest blossoms had been looped around polished stone columns, their vivid petals glowing faintly under the ambient mana. Soft moss was brushed clean and beaten flat, lining the pathways like a carpet. Even the crevices between the paving stones had been cleared of debris.
And everywhere, the scent of spiritual fruit hung thick and heady—sweet, rich, and almost intoxicating. The air was so dense with it that even the most focused spiritual beasts found their minds wandering toward the banquet to come.
