The night wind of the Fluorescent Forest drifted through the starship's ventilation system, carrying the humid scent of grass and trees. Lying on the floating bed in the Observatory, Xingtong watched the luminous trails of tree butterflies outline a shifting star map among the clouds—tonight, their pattern formed three overlapping palms, holding a glowing seed upward.
"Planetary magnetic field anomaly detected," Xavier's voice came through the communicator, hoarse with sleepiness. "The Fluorescent Forest in the northern hemisphere is shifting in unison, as if responding to some kind of energy summons."
Ava's figure appeared at the edge of the Observatory, holding a sketchbook with several fluorescent leaves collected during the day tucked between the pages. "I saw from the indigenous watchtower that they're using tree sap to paint the outline of the starship on the tower walls." Pointing toward the distant, faintly twinkling spire, she suggested, "Perhaps we should go say hello."
Chapter 255