The sun hung high in the sky, bathing Central Vedelia in warm golden light. It was barely noon, yet something about today already felt like one of the best days I'd had in a long time.
Layla walked beside me, clinging to my arm with a contented smile. Her delicate fingers curled around my sleeve as her dark pink eyes flitted across the bustling streets. She took everything in—the towering structures, the lively chatter of merchants, the rhythmic clatter of footsteps against the stone pavement.
"There are so many people here, Honey," she said, impressed by the sheer crowd.
"Well, it's Central Vedelia," I replied, glancing at the massive, ancient tree in the distance. Its whitish branches stretched skyward, shimmering with a faint beautiful glow. "A lot of people come just to get a closer look at the Tree."
Layla hummed in understanding. "It's the same in Dorian. Ever since Aurora opened the Garden of Eden to visitors, people have been flocking there nonstop."
