The lingering nightmares of Bonecrack Valley, of his fallen comrades, and the mysterious emerald energy flows that his Mystic Sense had accidentally perceived, would still occasionally visit Henry in his restless, fragmented sleep. They were like sharp shards of a shattered mirror of memory, reflecting vague images and familiar feelings he couldn't name, leaving him in a state of confusion and a deep, unexplainable unease.

Henry would startle awake, his hand unconsciously going to his left chest. There it was again , that feeling of emptiness, of an unnamable loss. He would sit up, go to the window, and look down at the silent streets of Aerion.

Everything was the same, but he felt like he no longer belonged. What have I forgotten? The question cut into his mind like a piece of broken glass. He tried to push it away, telling himself it was just a lingering echo of the battle, of the pain. But his investigator's intuition, and more than that, his warrior's instinct, told him a greater truth was being hidden.

One late afternoon, as the red-orange sunset was falling behind the ancient rooftops of Aerion, and the first magic lights were being lit on the streets, creating a shimmering, ethereal glow, Henry sat alone in his cluttered office at the Investigation Bureau.

He was reviewing a stack of old files, cases involving the use of dark magic to create control seals on wild animals. For some reason, this topic had recently caught his attention in a strange way, as if there was a vague urge guiding him.

His hand turned to a report on an ancient ritual, on a corner of which a Rune was scrawled. The moment his eyes landed on it, a strange feeling of familiarity ran down his spine. Henry instinctively put his hand on his left chest. And then it happened.

The seal he had always thought was a scar suddenly became hot. A gentle, pure warmth spread from his chest. And in his mind, overlapping images appeared: a tree made of emerald light. An incredibly familiar stream of energy flowed from it, not causing any pain or discomfort. On the contrary, it brought a sense of comfort and relaxation to his body, which was tired and tense after a long day's work.

At the same time, fragmented images of the ethereal emerald Light Tree, and a white aura whispering a name he couldn't recall , "Will" , flashed in his mind, clearer and more vivid than any dream he had had before. The pieces of memory that seemed to have been lost began to flicker and return.

Henry jumped, looking around in a hurry, his heart beating faster. Luckily, he was alone in the office; his colleagues had probably gone home or were busy with other missions in more distant areas.

"What's happening to me?" he wondered, with a mix of confusion and curiosity on his face.

"What is this seal? Why does it react so strangely when I'm studying dark magic and control seals?" He tried to focus all his energy, testing if he could control the miraculous warmth or bring back the images that had just flashed by. But it only appeared and then quickly disappeared at random, leaving him with a sense of regret and countless unanswered questions. The confusion and curiosity grew stronger in Henry's heart.

He decided he would secretly try to read more ancient documents, secret records about magical seals and the hidden abilities of humans, hoping to find even a small clue about what was happening to him, about the secrets he had perhaps sealed away himself in the past.

While Henry was struggling with his own mysteries, trying to find answers to the strange changes in his body and mind, Sophia's life at the Estath Cathedral was filled with brighter, warmer tones, as if to compensate for the loss and pain she had endured.

She not only found peace and tranquility in her work in the ancient library, a place that held thousands of years of Zephyros's knowledge, and in her meaningful charity work, helping the less fortunate, but she also found a special friendship with Brena. After their initial heart-to-heart confessions, Brena seemed to have opened up a lot, no longer reserved and distant, or cautious like a professional investigator.

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She often came to Sophia after a long, stressful day at the Bureau, not just to exchange information about cases with spiritual elements that the Cathedral could help investigate, but also to find a real friend, someone who would listen and understand the inner thoughts and burdens she couldn't share with anyone, not even Chief Investigator Ragley, whom she secretly respected and loved.

They would often visit Chief Investigator Ragley's house together on weekend afternoons, when work at the Bureau and the Cathedral was temporarily set aside. Little Luna, with her innocence and charm, became a silent connection, a miraculous catalyst that helped the friendship between these two seemingly different women grow stronger and more intimate.

Luna was very fond of Sophia, treating her like a close big sister who always brought her interesting fairytales, cheerful laughter, and gentle, warm advice. She would excitedly tell Sophia all kinds of stories from her classes at the convent, show off her crayon drawings of fairytale castles and beautiful princesses, or talk about her favorite small toys, the cloth dolls Brena had made for her.

Sophia also loved Luna very much. She saw in the little girl an innocent charm and an extraordinary resilience in the face of great loss. Despite not having a mother and her father being busy with national affairs, Luna was always cheerful and optimistic, like a sunflower always facing the sun.

Brena, though normally a bit distant, became soft and open when she was with Luna. Her sea-blue eyes, which were usually sharp, now shone with warmth and affection. She would clumsily braid Luna's soft, chestnut-brown hair and patiently answer the little girl's naive questions about the world, the stars, and the colorful butterflies in the small garden.

And sometimes, when no one was looking, Sophia would catch Brena secretly smiling to herself while watching Luna happily playing with the cloth dolls she had meticulously sewn, small gifts that contained all her silent love.

One evening, Ragley returned home, tired and exhausted as usual. He was about to go straight to his study, but when he passed the living room, he stopped. Luna was sitting on the white bearskin rug, listening intently to a story from Brena and giggling. The fire from the hearth lit up both their faces, creating an incredibly warm scene. For a moment, he forgot about the reports and the pressure. He just stood there, watching.

For the first time in many years, a genuine, unforced smile appeared on his lips, which were usually set in a serious line. He started spending more time with Luna, having dinner with her, listening to her endless stories, and sometimes even awkwardly reading her fairytales before she went to sleep.

"Daddy, Brena gave me a new doll today! It's so pretty!" Luna said excitedly when Ragley came home from the Bureau, her voice full of pride. "She also promised to teach me how to bake!".

Ragley looked at Brena, who was standing nearby, her face slightly flushed, her eyes a bit shy but full of joy. "You're too kind, Brena," he said, his voice a little different, not as serious as usual. "The work at the Bureau is busy enough, and you're still worrying about Luna."

"It's no trouble, Chief Investigator," Brena replied, her voice still professional but with a little more warmth.

"Taking care of Luna is also a joy for me." Ragley didn't say anything more, but in his eyes, Brena could see a silent gratitude, and perhaps even a slight spark of emotion that he tried to hide. He started paying more attention to Brena, not just as a colleague or a capable subordinate.

He saw the silent but sincere care Brena had for Luna, her gentleness and patience when playing with the little girl, how she listened to his worries, and how she tried to bring joy and warmth to his small family, which was so lacking in affection.

He also saw her dedication and sacrifice in her work, and the sadness and emotional scars that lay beneath her brave eyes. Some late evenings, after Luna was asleep, Ragley and Brena would sit together by the warm hearth with a hot cup of tea, talking about work, the pressure, and the quiet sacrifices of people in their profession.

And sometimes, they would just sit in silence, sharing thoughts and feelings that couldn't be put into words, finding understanding and empathy in each other's eyes. A new relationship, a special bond built on respect, trust, and maybe something more, was slowly forming between them, promising a warmer and happier future.

Henry, though still busy with his own mysteries and the strange feelings that were rising within him, also felt happy about this positive change in the lives of those around him. He was truly glad for Sophia, who had found a confidant and a close friend in Brena.

He was also genuinely happy for Chief Investigator Ragley and Luna, who were slowly finding the joy and warmth of a complete family, a home where love and understanding would heal all pain and loss. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease about what was happening to him. The Sanctuary Seal, the strange dreams of the Light Tree, the emerald energy flows , all of it felt like disconnected pieces of a larger puzzle.

A puzzle whose full picture he couldn't see, but whose importance and potential danger to his own future, and to the people he loved, he felt with an undeniable clarity. The road ahead was still very long, and he knew he would have to face countless challenges and mysteries that were far greater than he had ever imagined.

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