"…Interesting."
The word echoed across the space between worlds.
Not loudly.
Quietly.
Yet the emotional resonance carried it farther than thunder.
The silver bridge became still.
The lantern beneath the ancient tree flickered once.
The stories hanging from the branches stopped rustling.
Even the flowing stream paused for a single heartbeat.
Because something had answered.
Not the Island.
Not the forgotten realm.
Something else.
Something that had been watching.
The emotional resonance spread through existence.
Not with fear.
With awareness.
The Dreamer slowly opened its immense eye.
Its silver gaze reached beyond the bridge.
Beyond the forgotten names.
Beyond the silver mountains.
Farther.
To a place no story had ever traveled.
The Ocean whispered softly.
"…Did you know someone was there?"
The Dreamer remained silent.
For the first time in countless ages—
It did not answer immediately.
That silence frightened no one.
It simply reminded everyone—
