The sun rose over the village, casting a warm, golden light over the sleepy rooftops and the trees that whispered in the dawn breeze. Marcus stood outside the tavern, gazing at the distant treeline with a sense of purpose he had never felt before. The Whispering Woods had granted him a gift, a calling as its Guardian. Today marked the beginning of his mission to protect and strengthen not only the forest but also the village he had sworn to watch over.
Inside the tavern, Kira and Lyra were already bustling around, preparing for the day's business. Lyra noticed Marcus lost in thought and nudged Kira with a smirk. "Looks like our Guardian is deep in thought. Think he's planning to talk to the trees again?"
Kira chuckled. "Or maybe he's communing with the squirrels this time. Go on, call him back to earth."
Lyra stepped out onto the porch and waved at Marcus. "Hey, Guardian of the Woods! Are you going to spend the day daydreaming, or do you have plans?"
