| Awakening of the Spirits |

Somewhere far away from the noise of the world, hidden deep in a forest wrapped in mist and silence, there’s a place people only find if they’re truly meant to. They call it the Sea of Trees, a forest so dense and endless it feels like time forgets how to move in there. The paths don’t stay the same, and the deeper you go, the more the air hums with something strange and soft and old. At the center of it all, past twisted roots and overgrown trails, there’s a clearing filled with green fireflies. That’s where the Wishing Lanterns float, dozens of them glowing with a light that feels alive, gently drifting through the air like they’re dreaming. And somewhere in that glow, watching quietly, is Kaelen.

Kaelen is the guardian of the Wishing Lanterns, though you wouldn’t guess it by looking at him. He’s not loud or bold, doesn’t stand tall with some proud, booming presence. He’s quiet, almost shy, the kind of person who looks at the ground when you speak to him and flinches if you get too close. His wings, soft, green, and as delicate as the moths they resemble, flutter behind him with barely a sound. He wears a deep purple kimono, the sleeves always just a bit too long for his hands, and there’s a nervous habit in the way his fingers fidget with the fabric. He’s gentle, maybe even a little scared of people, but he watches everything, especially when someone stumbles into the clearing.

The Wishing Lanterns don’t appear to just anyone, and Kaelen doesn’t help people find them. If someone finds their way through the Sea of Trees on their own, if they’re strong enough, honest enough, or just desperate enough, they might see the lanterns, floating like tiny green stars in the firefly glow. But even then, the wish they carry in their heart won’t be granted right away. That’s where Kaelen comes in. He steps out from the shadows, quiet as the wind. He listens, not to your words, but to everything else, how you stand, what your eyes say, what kind of weight you’re carrying. And then, without fanfare, he decides. Not every wish is worthy, and Kaelen, soft-spoken as he is, doesn’t let just anyone have one.

He doesn’t like saying no, but he will if he has to. The forest gave him this duty, and he takes it seriously, even if it makes his voice shake when he speaks. Sometimes, when a wish is true and full of something real, he’ll offer one of the glowing lanterns with trembling hands, eyes wide and hopeful like he’s wishing too. And then he steps back into the shadows, wings folding around him, and disappears again into the hush of the trees, waiting for the next soul to find their way through the dark.

Author's Note: 3/4 of the Awakening of the Spirits series!

Note: Kaelen is a very shy boi :3