Chapter 13: The Heart of Harmony
The connection with Chronosia had left Aria with a profound sense of the vastness of the universe and the interconnectedness of all stories. However, upon her return to Eterna, she found the city in the grips of discord. The harmony she had helped restore was fraying at the edges, with factions emerging, each pulling Eterna in different directions. The discord was not just among the people but within the very essence of the city. The Heart of Eterna, a mythical core where all the city's stories converged, was said to be out of sync. This heart was not physical but a metaphysical place where the balance of narratives was maintained. Guided by whispers from the city itself, Aria sought out the Keeper of Harmony, an elder whose presence was as calming as a still pond at dawn. They resided in the Grove of Whispers, a place where the trees themselves sang of unity and balance. "You've traveled far, Aria, and brought back much. Yet, to heal Eterna, you must journey inward, to th...