The woman reaches the edge of the forest.
Standing atop a tall tree, she scans the land ahead.
A slow, excited smile spreads across her face when she spots a nearby village.
"Finally."
She drops down and dashes toward it.
As she gets closer, the sounds reach her first.
Voices.
Laughter.
Casual chatter.
Even though the sun has only just risen in the east.
The village is simple.
Its buildings blend seamlessly with nature. Wood, green, grass, trees. As if they have grown from the earth rather than been built.
Some villagers feed chickens. Others milk cows. A few clean pig pens. Some lead horses out to the meadows while their stalls are being cleaned.
It is dawn.
But the village is already alive.
There is no sign of modern technology.
Yet, on closer inspection, she notices small details.
Electricity.
Subtle.
Blended in.
Street lights wrapped in vines. Poles shaped and colored like living wood. The lights themselves glow softly, almost like fireflies rather than bulbs.
