The first shoots

ㅤ Preparing for the miracle of birth, the young couple watched nature slowly blossom. For the native Elympions, seeing a solitary flower in a once lifeless wasteland was a true blessing. Fear for their future and that of their children gave way to hope, and dreams became reality. "Oh!" As if echoing the mother's thoughts, the child stirred in the womb, allowing the father's hand to distinctly feel its tiny foot. "To think, the world has truly been changed." Marta snuggled closer to her husband. Watching the flower sway in the gentle breeze, she reminisced. "When Ratatosk refused to help, I thought it would spell the end of humanity. He could have freed nature from its dependence on mana and spirits, but then…" The deceptive first impression gave a feeling of tenderness, which soon gave way to a rough and uncouth image. Marta became deeply angry, accusing one of the most powerful spirits of intransigence and inaction, considering herself a noble savior, desperately fighting for a just cause. For the spirits! Few even knew about them in those days, but she was communicating directly. She wanted to… save them all. If plants and animals no longer required mana, the spirits could extend their lives. So she naively believed, without considering the consequences. "'Humans must solve their own problems.' Perhaps he was right?" she continued to ponder. "If the problem of decay ceased to exist, people would not consider an alternative." Inhaling the scent of his beloved's hair, Ludger tenderly kissed her head, conveying his care with his touch. "You did everything right," he finally spoke. "No one knew what lay ahead. Everyone saw the end approaching, but few tried to do anything about it, expecting a miracle or salvation from others. You deserve respect." Ludger's embrace grew tighter, but gentler. Marta felt herself under reliable protection. Physically and emotionally. Touched by the praise and display of love, Marta turned slightly and shyly buried her nose in Ludger's armpit. 'How foolish I was,' Marta chuckled, remembering the fool she'd been at sixteen, 'I almost gave my heart to a spirit. But Ratatosk really was sweet… At first.' But it wasn't so much the charm of his appearance that attracted her, as his chivalrous spirit when Ratatosk saved the human girl. 'If I meet him again, I should definitely thank him. And apologize…' But did a powerful spirit need something like that? Ratatosk had long since forgotten about the absurd girl. However, they had something in common: he, too, far from people, observed how nature came to life, caressing the first shoots with his attention. ㅤ