...The tranquil aura of the stream seemed to belong to another world when they resumed their march. As they advanced, the scenery around them began to change - almost imperceptibly at first. The vegetation became sparser, but no less dense. It was as if the trees were moving slightly away from each other, leaving a strange, almost ceremonial space between them.
The air took on a subtle metallic smell, like ozone before a storm. The ground, once covered in thick moss and fallen leaves, was now firmer, covered in a kind of damp black sand that absorbed the sound of the horses' hooves.
Kael frowned, slowing down. "Do you feel that?" he muttered.
"Yes," replied Exelia, her voice low, careful. She got off her horse and motioned for him to follow her. "We're in one of the old veins."
"Veins?"
"Rivers of mana. Natural. Wild. They run under the earth, but sometimes they break through the surface. The forest grows over them, but here..." she looked around "...the forest bows in respect."
