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"But it drained you," she observed. "I saw the blood."

I nodded. "Controlling so many elements at once is taxing. Usually, our interactions with the forest are more subtle. What you saw was like shouting instead of whispering."

"And the wolves? You said they were corrupted by dark magic. I thought—" she hesitated. "In the terramares, they teach us that magic is just advanced technology. That it's all explainable by science."

I couldn't help but laugh, though there was no mockery in it. "Your people see what they want to see. Magic is as real as the air we breathe, as fundamental as the earth beneath our feet. It's the language of life itself."

Acacia absorbed this in silence, her expression thoughtful. Finally, she said, "I suppose I have a lot to learn."

"We both do," I admitted. "I'm not used to teaching anyone about our ways. Most nymphs are born knowing these things."

"And most humans are born knowing how to use a fork, but here we are," she retorted, a hint of her earlier spark returning.

Despite myself, I smiled. "Point taken. Though I hope you'll forgive me if I prioritize teaching you survival skills over dining etiquette."

"Speaking of survival," she glanced at the cypress's walls, "how long do we have to stay in here?"

I extended my senses again. "The wolves are still out there, but they're growing restless. Once the sun rises, they'll be forced to retreat. Dark magic doesn't fare well in daylight."

"So we're stuck here all night?"

"Afraid so. Unless you'd prefer to take your chances with the wolves?"

She shot me a look that could have withered a lesser being. "I think I'll pass. But you should rest. You look awful."

"Such concern for my wellbeing," I drawled, though in truth, I was exhausted. "Don't worry. The cypress will alert me if anything tries to break through."

Acacia settled herself against the curved wall, still holding her branch. "I'll keep watch anyway. Just in case."

I wanted to argue, to tell her she needed rest more than I did, but something in her expression stopped me. This was her way of contributing, of proving her worth. Who was I to deny her that?

"Wake me if anything changes," I said instead, allowing myself to sink into a light healing trance.

As my consciousness merged with the forest's awareness, I found my thoughts dwelling on Acacia. She was nothing like I'd expected—not a weak, helpless human to be protected, but a warrior in her own right. Perhaps Broaka had known what she was doing, after all.

The night passed slowly, marked by the steady rhythm of Acacia's breathing and the occasional howl from outside. Each time the wolves made their presence known, I felt her tense, but she never showed fear. Instead, she remained vigilant, her grip never loosening on her makeshift weapon.

As dawn approached, I emerged from my trance, feeling somewhat restored. Acacia was still awake, though her eyes were heavy with exhaustion.

"The wolves?" I asked softly.

"Getting restless," she reported. "They've been pacing more frequently for the past hour."

I nodded, impressed by her attention to detail. "They'll leave soon. The sun's about to rise."

Sure enough, as the first rays of dawn filtered through the cypress, we heard the wolves retreat, their corrupted energy fading from my awareness. Only then did Acacia finally lower her branch.

"Thank you," she said suddenly, not meeting my eyes.

"For what?"

"For saving my life. And for not treating me like I was useless."

The admission seemed to cost her something, and I understood why. Pride was all she had left in this strange new world.

"You saved yourself as much as I saved you," I told her honestly. "That move with the branch? Most trained warriors wouldn't have had the courage to face a dire wolf head-on."

She finally looked at me, a small smile playing at her lips. "Most trained warriors probably wouldn't have been stupid enough to try."