---
Loira smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with determination. "They will be. And we'll make sure of it."
As they pressed on, the fragment's/ shard's light guided them toward their next destination, the challenges ahead a constant reminder of the stakes they faced.
But despite the dangers, their resolve remained unshaken. Together, they would reclaim all the fragment, restore the Aetherial core, and stop the Ancient Ones— no matter the cost.
As the fragment's light led them deeper into the glowing forest, Dabi and Loira felt an unspoken tension brewing between them.
The forest's ethereal beauty was deceptive, each glowing leaf and softly humming root masking the dangers lurking just beyond their vision.
"Do you think this forest has always been this... alive?" Dabi asked, his voice low.
Loira glanced at him, her hand brushing the faintly glowing fragment secured in her pouch. "I think it's more than alive. It feels... aware."
