The Shattered Constellations Between Stars

Nyx wandered through the forest again, her small hand brushing against the familiar textures of leaves and bark as she moved slowly, with Len by her side.

The cool morning air was thick with the scent of earth and greenery, and the gentle sounds of the forest filled her ears. She had grown fond of these moments, where she could explore with Len guiding her, his presence always comforting and reassuring.

"Len, what are we learning today?" Nyx asked, her voice tinged with excitement as she felt the soft crunch of leaves beneath her feet.

"Today, Nyx, I'm going to teach you about healing herbs," Len replied, his voice as calm and kind as ever. "These plants can help heal wounds, ease pain, and restore your strength when you need it."

Nyx's curiosity was piqued as she carefully felt around the plants that Len was showing her. Each one had its own distinct texture and smell, and she was determined to remember them all.

Len guided Nyx's hand to a soft, cool petal. "This is the Moonshade Blossom, Nyx. It only blooms at night, under the light of the moon. Its petals are pale blue and very soft to the touch."

Nyx's fingers traced the delicate petals. "What does it do, Len?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

"It helps the body heal quickly," Len explained. "If you have a deep cut or a burn, this blossom can make it heal much faster."

Len gently placed a warm, vibrant root in Nyx's hands. "This is the Sunfire Root. Can you feel how warm it is?"

Nyx nodded, holding the root carefully. "It feels like the sun!" she said with a small giggle.

Len chuckled softly. "Yes, it does. It's used to fight off fevers and infections. If you ever feel very sick, this root can help you get better."

Len placed a shimmering leaf into Nyx's palm. "This is Silverleaf. It's smooth and shiny, like silver."

Nyx ran her fingers over the leaf's surface. "It feels so smooth, Len. What does it do?"

"Silverleaf helps your skin heal," Len replied. "If you have a scrape or a small burn, this leaf can make the skin grow back faster, without leaving a scar."

Len guided her to a delicate, feathery plant. "This is Whisperwind Fern, Nyx. It's light and airy, just like a whisper."

Nyx smiled as she touched the fern's leaves. "It's so soft. What does it help with, Len?"

"It soothes pain and helps you breathe easier," Len told her. "If you ever have a bad ache or trouble breathing, this fern can help make you feel better."

Len placed Nyx's hand on a vine with a slightly rough texture. "This is Bloodvine. It feels a bit different, doesn't it?"

Nyx nodded, her fingers brushing over the vine. "It feels strong. What does it do?"

"The sap from this vine can stop bleeding very quickly," Len explained. "If you ever get a big cut, Bloodvine can help close the wound fast so you don't lose too much blood."

Len held out a small, star-shaped flower to Nyx. "This is Starpetal, Nyx. Its petals glow a little, like stars in the night."

Nyx touched the glowing petals, her face lighting up with awe. "It feels magical, Len. What does it do?"

"Starpetal can cure poison," Len said softly. "If you ever get bitten or stung by something poisonous, this flower can help you get better quickly."

Len guided her hand to a cool, soft patch of moss. "This is Frostmoss. It's cold, isn't it?"

Nyx shivered a little as she touched the moss. "It's really cold! What does it help with?"

"It takes away heat from burns and swollen injuries," Len explained. "If you ever get burned or hurt, Frostmoss can cool it down and make it less painful."

Len placed Nyx's hand on a thorny bush, carefully avoiding the sharp points. "This is Glimmerthorn. Be careful of the thorns, Nyx. They glow a little, too."

Nyx carefully touched the thorny stems. "What does it do, Len?"

"The extract from these thorns can heal deep cuts and help with scars," Len said. "If you ever get a deep wound, this can help it heal nicely."

Len held out a small, glowing leaf to Nyx. "This is Lunaria. It glows like the moon, too."

Nyx felt the gentle glow in her hands. "It feels warm. What does it do?"

"Lunaria helps you feel better when you're very tired," Len explained. "If you ever feel like you have no energy left, Lunaria can help you feel strong again."

Finally, Len placed a small, heart-shaped leaf in Nyx's palm. "This is Heart's Ease, Nyx. It's shaped like a little heart."

Nyx smiled as she felt the tiny heart-shaped leaf. "It's so cute! What does it help with, Len?"

"Heart's Ease can take away pain and help you feel calm," Len told her gently.

"If you ever feel very hurt or sad, this plant can help make you feel peaceful again."

"Are they edible, Len?" she asked, a hint of eagerness in her voice as her fingers traced the delicate leaves of one herb.

Len chuckled softly, his light glowing warmly beside her. "Yes, Nyx. They are edible. Just be sure to chew them well."

Without hesitation, Nyx plucked one of the leaves and placed it in her mouth. The taste was slightly bitter, but she chewed it carefully, trusting Len's guidance.

As she swallowed, she suddenly felt a strange sensation, like a soft tingling in her chest, followed by a gentle chime echoing in her mind.

A notification from the Geons System appeared in her thoughts, clear and unmistakable:

Consume 10 of each healing herb to receive the skill:

Restoration Mastery—a healing skill that can only be used on yourself.

Level: S

Nyx's eyes widened, though she couldn't see. "Len! The Geons System just told me something!"

"What did it say?" Len asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and caution.

"It said that if I eat 10 of each of these herbs, I'll get a skill called Restoration Mastery. It's a healing skill that I can use on myself, level: S!" Nyx exclaimed, her heart pounding with excitement.

Len hummed thoughtfully, hovering closer to her. "That's very interesting, Nyx. Restoration Mastery is a powerful skill. But remember, healing herbs are precious. Only consume them when you really need them, or when we're practicing carefully."

Nyx nodded, absorbing his words. She felt a rush of determination. "I'll make sure to use them wisely, Len. But... Do you think I could really master such a skill?"

Len's light flickered warmly in encouragement. "I believe you can, Nyx. You're stronger and more capable than you think."

A small smile spread across Nyx's face as she gently touched another herb. The forest around her felt alive and welcoming, a place of endless possibilities. She could sense the magic all around her, and with Len's guidance, she knew she was on the path to discovering her true potential.

Len then began teaching her about other things like fruits and vegetables that are edible to her.

"These are the starlight plums." A dark purple fruit speckled with tiny, silver-white flecks that resemble stars on it.

She tasted them, they were juicy and delicious.

Then they went somewhere else.

"Then we have the Glowsap berry." Len considered explaining to her. Small, translucent berries that glow faintly in the dark. "And then you have a tree of Crimson Apple." Deep red with a slightly golden hue at the stem. She tasted all of them and she was not disappointed. She was also picking some of them to bring with her back to the cave to continue eating.

During the time of her picking and eating these fruits, her mind would often run back to the day when she went into the cave and was scared out of her life.

What was that? She asked herself.She didn't know that there were other creatures besides them and the other animals in the forest.

Truth to be told she was very curious as to what it was and Len also seemed to know what or who it belonged to.

"Len, remember the other day when we went into the cave and then we ran away because something scared us? What was that?" She asked curiously.

Len stopped eating the plum and looked at her with wide eyes.

"That was something dangerous and we should never interfere with it."

" Do you understand?" He warned her.

"This is for your own good Nyx, I'm serious."

"Besides, if Drac knew that I brought you to the west side of the forest, even if it was an accident, he would kill me." He said in a scared tone.

"But why don't you guys go there? It's probably never been explored, think about all the different things we could find." She said feeling inspired.

"No Nyx, we shouldn't get caught up with it, so get that thought out of your head." He countered.

"Fine." She relented.

But she wouldn't let it go just yet.

Len then took her to the north part of the forest, where the atmosphere shifted slightly. The trees grew taller and denser, their leaves thickening to block out more light. The air was rich with the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers, and strange sounds echoed all around them. The spirit led him to a secluded glade, where a herd of gentle creatures grazed peacefully. It was the Luminox.

"What is this place Len?" Nyx asked while looking around curiously.

"This is the home of the Luminox, they are the creatures that gave you milk when you were a baby." Len replied.

"Really, I drank from those?" She said a bit skeptical.

"Yes you did." Len laughed.

"Come let's meet them." He started dragging her to them.

Since she was continuously using echo vision, she could see how they looked and they were big, not as big as Drac but big nonetheless.

When she was finally there, they all turned and looked at her, as if they were waiting just for her.

She was a bit scared but excited as well. Len gently took her hand up to one them that was closer to her and let her pat him gently.

The Luminox, then rubbed its face on her hand as if saying hi.

She was impressed and happy. She continued this for quite some time and she was sitting down while some of them were surrounding her.

They decided that it was time to go, so she got up and was getting ready to leave but before that she was given some of their milk in a leaf cup.

She drank it down, it was delicious.

"I want more." She told Len hungrily.

"You can have more anytime you want, just come and they will give it to you." Len chuckled at her behavior.

They then left back to the cave, with an excited Nyx.

Back at the cave.

Nyx was way too excited. Too much sugar, so she was very hyperactive.

Once she reaches the cave and with the help of Len, climbs up the hill.

She began to excitedly tell Drac about her day.

Once she was in the cave, Drac took her to the waterfall so she could have a bath. She was funky.

While in the bath with Drac and Len, ensuring that she doesn't drown herself.

The water that was in the cave of the waterfall was way too deep for even an adult, so they tried her best to feel her afloat. Drac did this by using his hands as a float and she is sitting there bathing herself, while Len also splashed water on her back.

Drac listened attentively to what she said, humming where necessary.

After her bath was done, Len then gave her a leaf from the Cloudhaven Cottonwood tree. These are the leaves that were used as a diaper for her when she just came into the forest and it is what is used as a clothing for her so she doesn't get cold also as a sheet for her when she is sleeping.

The leaves of the Cloudhaven Cottonwood are broad, heart-shaped, and soft to the touch, resembling cotton fibers. Their vibrant green hue deepens to emerald, and they feature gently serrated edges.

These leaves can be draped or layered as clothing, providing lightweight, breathable coverage that offers warmth and comfort. They shimmer with a magical glow in sunlight and transform into brilliant shades of gold and orange in autumn, making them visually striking. Each leaf absorbs excess moisture from the air, ensuring that wearers stay comfortable in various climates.

As she was telling Drac about all that happened to her, she stopped mid way to yawn.

"I guess you're pretty tired." Drac said with a smile on his face, though you couldn't see it, he was smiling at her cuteness.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Drac told her.

"I will but I want to tell you all about my day first." She answered with a pout on her lips.

"You can always tell me tomorrow little one, I'm not going anywhere."

"Ok." She finally relented.

"Wait another thing, are we the only ones in the forest?" She asked with sleep in her voice.

"What do you mean?" He answered tightly.

"Like are we the only one, me, you and Len and the other creatures in the forest living here?" She yawned out. The sleep was eating her away but she was fighting it.

"Why do you ask Nyx?" Drac said with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"Well it's just that, we were in another cave at the other side of the forest this one time and something or someone told us to leave. It was raining that day and…." She couldn't get to finish her sentence because sleep finally took over her.

She snores lightly while Len covered her up with one of the leaves while trying his best to not look at Drac who was staring daggers at him.

"Didn't I tell you to make her stay within my territory?" Drac growled out.

Len gulped. His life began to flash before his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but she dragged me there and I tried my best to tell her to not go, but she is so stubborn." He tried to explain himself.

"Your job was to protect her at all costs."

"I did try to but…" he got cut off.

"That is not an excuse, if you ever let her go there again. Then your life will end by my hands." Drac threatened.