Arpious reached out to steady Elara, her grip firm but gentle. "Careful," she murmured, smiling as the fireflies swirled around them. "This place feels alive... not just alive, but awake."
Elara nodded, her eyes wide as she marveled at the radiant beauty around her. "It's as though the mire itself is watching us," she said. Her voice was tinged with wonder, her earlier nervousness replaced by awe. She knelt beside a shallow pool, her fingers brushing the surface. The water responded with a ripple of light, and tiny glowing fish darted away, leaving behind streaks of brilliance.
As they pressed deeper into the mire, the towering mushrooms grew denser, their glowing caps creating a canopy of shifting, multicolored light. Occasionally, they passed clusters of luminous amphibians, their skin marbled with patterns of glowing green and gold. Some croaked in harmony with the natural melody of the swamp, while others simply watched with wide, glowing eyes.
