The group stepped through the archway, holding their breath as a wave of cool air washed over them. On the other side, they found themselves in a vast, open landscape. Unlike the pulsing, vibrant forest behind them, this new terrain was vast and quiet, covered in fields of strange, glowing grass that swayed rhythmically, like waves on an ocean.The sky above was darker here, painted in deep blues and purples, with stars that flickered in patterns they'd never seen before. Strange floating islands dotted the sky, connected by long tendrils of light, as if the world itself was woven together by threads of magic."Whoa," Coy whispered, breaking the silence. "This is... incredible."Terra, ever the adventurer, took a step forward and laughed. "Look at this place! It's like the sky's a painting come to life!"Goans, Maple, Magus, Fencer and Idash remained quiet, Idash's gaze drawn to the far horizon where a massive mountain loomed, its peak hidden by clouds. There was something about that mountain, a pull stronger than anything he had felt before. His heart beat faster the longer he stared at it, as if it held the answers he was seeking."Where do we even start?" Frigid asked, spinning in place as he tried to take in every detail of this new world.Before anyone could respond, the small creature that had led them here fluttered up and circled around them, its shimmering wings catching the starlight. It chirped softly, then flew ahead, pausing every few moments as if waiting for them to follow."Looks like we've got a guide," Ignite said, smirking. "Good thing too—this place is huge!"They followed the creature across the glowing plains, the ground beneath their feet so soft it felt like walking on clouds.Gust was unusually quiet, clearly still processing the strangeness of the world, while Terra seemed ready to sprint ahead, eager for whatever adventure awaited.As they walked, Idash couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every now and then, Fencer caught movement in the corner of his eye—faint shadows flitting across the plains—but when he turned to look, there was nothing there. Still, the feeling persisted, gnawing at the back of his mind."Do you guys feel... weird?" Nebula asked after a while, voicing what they were all thinking. "Like, I don't know... like something's watching us?"Nebula scoffed. "Of course something's watching us. We're probably the first people to set foot here in centuries! This place is alive, remember?""Yeah, but... alive how?" Gust muttered, casting a nervous glance around. "What if the whole place is waiting for us to mess up or—""Relax," Frigid interrupted. "If something was going to happen, it would've by now." Idash stayed silent, but his eyes narrowed. Gust wasn't wrong to be cautious. The strange sensations—the pulse beneath the ground, the shifting shadows—felt like more than just the land itself being alive. There was something else. Someone else.Their guide chirped again, louder this time, and darted toward a cluster of towering stones that jutted out from the plains. The group quickened their pace, curious about what the creature was trying to show them.The stones, ancient and worn, formed a circle, each one covered in intricate carvings. The moment they stepped into the circle, the air grew still, and a faint hum filled the space, as if the stones themselves were vibrating with energy."Uh... guys?" Coy said, backing up slowly. "I'm getting a bad feeling about this."But Idash and Raven weren't listening. Idash stepped toward the largest stone in the center, his eyes drawn to a symbol carved deep into its surface. It was a symbol he recognized—one he had seen before, though he couldn't remember where.As his fingers brushed the stone, the humming grew louder, and suddenly the ground beneath them shifted. A low rumble echoed across the plains, and the sky above flickered as if the very stars were trembling.Raven stepped forward, his eyes wide with excitement. "What did you do? Did you activate something?"Before Idash could respond, the ground erupted with light. The glowing grass shot upward, forming spirals of energy that twisted around them. The air crackled with magic, and the stones began to glow, their carvings lighting up one by one. Everyone except Magus, Gonas, Maple, Fencer and Raven along with Idash stumbled back, their eyes wide with panic. "I knew it! We're doomed!" said Gust panicing. The people who stood near the stone, however, didn't move. They stood still, feeling the energy swirl around them, through them. It wasn't threatening—it was welcoming, familiar even. Everyone closed their eyes, letting the magic wash over them. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the light faded. The rumbling stopped, and the world went quiet again. The group in the back looked around, confused. "What just happened?"Before anyone could answer, a deep voice echoed through the air. "You have been chosen."Idash's eyes snapped open, and he spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was no one there. Just the stones, still faintly glowing."Chosen for what?" Gust asked, his voice shaky.The voice answered, though it seemed to speak directly to the boy this time. "To unlock the secrets of this world. To awaken what has been sleeping for eons." Idash's heart pounded in his chest. He had always known he was different, but this—this was something else entirely."What does that mean?" he whispered, barely able to form the words. But the voice didn't answer. Instead, the stones dimmed, and the strange pulsing energy faded away, leaving them standing in the quiet circle once more.The group in the back (Terra, Nebula, Gust, Ignite, Coy and Frigid) looked at the boy, their expression serious for the first time. "Looks like you're more important than we thought." Gust muttered. The people in the front said nothing, Idash's mind racing with questions. He didn't know what he had just unlocked, but he had a feeling that whatever it was, their journey had just become much more dangerous.Gust groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great. First talking lakes, now mysterious voices telling us we're 'chosen'. What's next, flying monsters?" Nebula grinned. "Probably. But isn't this fun?"The boys smiled faintly, though everyones thoughts were still on the voice. "To awaken what has been sleeping for eons." No one know what that meant, Except the four of them (Magus, Gonas, Maple and Fencer) but everyone was certain of one thing—they were no longer just wandering through this world. They were part of something much bigger. And whatever lay ahead, there was no turning back.