In a cave that resonated with a sacred stillness, a silence so dense it seemed to absorb sound, broken only by a crystalline echo.

(Drip... Drip...)

That was not a common cave of rock and humidity, but instead a sanctuary forged by life itself.

(Drip...)

The cavern was saturated with a concentration of Natural Energy so pure that it glowed, giving the rock and earth a crystalline appearance where iridescent crystals of Life Sap sprouted from the walls, emitting a soft light that cast dancing shadows.

(Step... Step...)

Everywhere, the gigantic and twisted roots of the World Tree emerged from the earth and sank back down, forming natural arches and tunnels covered with luminescent moss, while the air filtering through them possessed perfect purity.

(Step... Step... Step...)

And through that spectral landscape, a solitary, hooded figure advanced with slow, measured steps. The thick, dark brown cloak seemed to absorb the light, making the individual almost a shadow amidst the glow.

(Step... Step...)

The steps were silent, barely a whisper on the stone, as the figure moved with a grace reminiscent of a being that did not tread the earth but floated above it.

"....."

The figure's destination was a pond in the center of the chamber, whose edge was formed by a crown of braided roots. The water was so clear it seemed not to exist, revealing a bottom of emerald pebbles that pulsed with their own light.

"It has been a long journey, old friend."

Finally, the silent steps stopped right at the edge of the pond.

(Drip... Drip...)

The faint sound of the dripping became the only accompaniment as the hooded figure, without making any sudden movement, raised a trembling hand to the hood and gently pushed it back.

(Fsss)

Letting the robe fall, she revealed the face of an old woman. Her skin, marked by the lines of time, did not reflect fragility, but rather immense experience and latent power. Long, gray, almost white strands of hair framed her face and cascaded over her shoulders with the fluidity of a moonlit waterfall.

"I suppose some things never change."

Although her eyes were deep and tired, they glowed with an ancient wisdom, as if they had witnessed the birth and death of eons.

"Aren't you going to come out and greet your guest?"

With the hood now removed, she inhaled, releasing a plume of vaporized air that immediately dissipated into the cave's pure energy. Her voice, though exhausted, was soft and resonant, imbuing the sacred setting with a casual familiarity.

"I know you are awake, Queen of Spirits."

The old woman then leaned slightly over the pond, murmuring.

(Fwoosh... Fwoosh...)

In response to the elder's call, the immaculate surface of the pond, until then motionless, began to stir. Small concentric ripples spread from the center, growing and pulsing with a soft emerald light, as if a deep breath were disturbing its depths, while the natural energy within the water swirled, becoming denser.

(Vrrrrmmm...)

Then, from the ripples, a figure began to slowly emerge. It was not a solid body, but a manifestation of pure energy floating above the water, translucent and ethereal, yet unmistakably a humanoid form.

"Well, you finally come out."

She was the Queen of Spirits, although her appearance was much more diffuse and less defined than her battle avatar.

"....."

Her silhouette was imposing, though lacking material density. She was like a vision of pure, fluctuating energy, a brilliant emerald green. Her figure, barely outlined by the light, stood gracefully upon the pond, her long hair and the lines of her form flowing as if she were made of luminous smoke.

"...."

And despite emitting no sound, her presence filled the cave with a palpable resonance of wisdom and ancestral weariness. Her eyes, though only brighter points of energy, fixed on the elder, communicating a deep understanding and a barely perceptible hint of reproach.

"You know, I was expecting to see your..."

Then the old woman, observing the translucent figure of the Queen of Spirits floating over the pond.

"Usual avatar, more... substantial."

With a gray eyebrow arched with implicit knowledge, she commented, her tone casually critical.

"But judging by your condition, I'd say you're not at your best."

Thus, the elder took a moment to inspect the fluctuating energy figure with curiosity.

"In fact, it looks like someone has drained you to the bone."

"I had some inconveniences."

At those words, the Queen of Spirits, whose energetic form pulsed with a slight tremor, finally emitted a voice.

"It is not your concern, Shula."

It was not a sound from her throat, but an echo transmitted directly into the elder's mind, cold and with a trace of irritation.

"Hehe..."

Hearing that, the elder only smiled with an air of resignation, unperturbed by the tone.

"Probably."

And with a soft sigh, she began to sit down, settling herself on the braided roots that formed the edge of the pond. Her movement was slow, characteristic of one who has learned patience over countless years.

"Why have you come here?"

The Queen, seeing her sit down, ceased her trembling. Her essence concentrated slightly, and her bright eyes fixed on the elder, waiting after asking.

"You should already know..."

Then Shula leaned slightly against one of the braided roots, observing the flickering energy figure over the water and breathing deeply, filling her lungs with the pure, vitality-charged air of the cave, before responding.

"I just came to see an old friend in my final moments."

After declaring this in her calm voice, devoid of any sentimentality, Shula smiled.

"....."

In response, the Queen's energetic manifestation remained silent. The emerald glow seemed to dim for an instant.

"How much time do you have left?"

When the Queen spoke again, her voice was a melancholic whisper, tinged with sadness and a personal tone.

"Not much."

Shula smiled, a small, sad smile that only wrinkled the corners of her tired eyes.

"My life is extinguishing faster and faster, Queen. I am fueling the fire now with every breath."

After those words, a heavy silence enveloped the cave.

(Drip... Drip...)

The only audible sound was the constant, crystalline rhythm of water droplets falling into the pond.

"...."

The Queen's manifestation remained motionless, observing her friend with a sadness that transcended her.

"How are you doing?"

Finally, the Queen broke the silence with a voice that, for a moment, sounded more human than anything.

"Strangely, at peace."

At which Shula moved, adjusting her posture on the braided roots. Her deep, old eyes looked directly at the energy figure, responding in a reflective tone.

"Now that I am at the gates of death, my consciousness has begun to synchronize with the will and the memories of my predecessors. Those who, before me, also nourished the fire."

A slight, almost ghostly smile crossed Shula's face.

"It is a comfort. A shared knowledge that tells you you are not alone as you extinguish."

Hearing those words, the Queen's ethereal manifestation trembled. Her form, made of fluctuating light, visibly wavered.

"So... you can see them."

Then the Queen responded, and the simple thought transmitted an elemental shockwave.

(Whoosh...)

The wind suddenly blew in the cave, although there were no visible entrances, stirring the luminescent moss. The pond reacted to the disturbance, its waters lightly rippling, reflecting the Queen's glow in erratic movements.

"The memories of the ancient Priestesses of the Flame..."

The Queen of Spirits concentrated, activating her spiritual gaze. Her already bright energy eyes intensified, penetrating beyond Shula's skin and soul.

"They really are here."

As the Queen watched Shula, her vision was filled with ghostly presences. Behind the elder, ethereal shadows wrapped in fire rose up. They were female figures, countless and silent, each an echo of the past, fused with the burning light of Shula's consciousness, forming a wall of spectral power that was consuming her life.

"Ahaha... So you can see them..."

Shula nodded her head, without the need for the Queen to ask. She was absorbed in the shared wisdom that was now hers, her eyes fixed on a distant point beyond the limits of the cave.

"My turn is over."

Thus Shula confirmed, and in her voice there was relief, not sadness.

"You know, in the beginning, in the darkest era, when the worst of all nightmares took form, the Light was born to stand against it."

She paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle.

"But, in opposition to that nightmare, back then the fire was nothing more than faint embers that chose a human. It endowed her with its 'light' to confront it. And after her death, those embers grew, crossing dimensions, going between worlds, across the space-time continuum, choosing the next generation to stand against that darkness."

"....."

The Queen of Spirits listened, her ethereal form flickering.

"That is the truth of the Priestesses of the Flame."

As Shula finished speaking, the ethereal shadows wrapped in fire behind her began to fade. Slowly dissolving, one by one, like dissipating smoke.

"Despite that..."

With their departure, the burning glow surrounding Shula also diminished, leaving only a fragile, tired old woman sitting on the roots.

"We have never been able to eliminate the darkness. In fact, quite the opposite... it has expanded, covering many worlds."

Suddenly, she stopped.

"Ugh...!"

A subtle gasp escaped her lips. The smile of resignation twisted slightly as she brought a trembling hand to her chest.

"Haa..."

Shula breathed out, feeling her life accelerating, the fire extinguishing faster than ever.

"But I can feel it..."

However, despite the pain, a real smile, full of hope, formed on her face.

"The next generation is about to be born."

She looked at a distant point, beyond the cave, the Queen, and the world itself, inclining her head towards the Queen, her eyes filled with that prophetic vision.

"I can feel how everything will be decided in the era of the next one..."

"...."

The Queen's energy manifestation observed the distant point where Shula fixed her gaze, her own elemental essence unable to grasp the prophetic vision.

"What do you mean by those words?"

Shula turned her eyes back to the emerald figure floating above the pond.

"All the actors have finally taken the stage."

Her smile widened, charged with acceptance.

"And more and more, the night is drawing closer. The events initiated so long ago, with the first fire and the first nightmare, will find a conclusion..."

She then paused, her breathing becoming so shallow it was almost imperceptible.

"I can only wish..."

The elder raised her hand toward the Queen, a gesture that did not seek to touch her, but to say goodbye.

"I can only wish, old friend, that in the inevitable clash between comedy and tragedy, there may be a happy ending."

With that plea, Shula offered the Queen a final smile, a final gesture of affection and hope.

"..."

Thus, her eyes, filled with eons of memories, closed for the last time.

(Fsss-Shhh)

And the instant her eyes closed, the braided roots forming the edge of the pond sprang to life. Hundreds of thin, strong vines sprouted from the earth, rapidly ascending. Enveloping Shula in a gentle, yet firm movement, they wove a dense cocoon of wood and foliage around her.

"Goodbye... Shula."

In seconds, Shula disappeared completely, encapsulated in a natural tomb, silently fueling the fire of the next generation.

"My dear friend."

Leaving the Queen of Spirits alone with the echo of her friend's plea resounding in the trembling heart of the world in mourning.