🌿 The Echo Tree 🌿

In a forgotten village wrapped in mist and legend, there stood a tree older than memory itself. Its bark shimmered faintly in moonlight, and its roots twisted like ancient runes across the earth. The villagers called it The Echo Tree—a name passed down through generations, though no one knew why.

Except for Aira.

She was different from the others—quiet, curious, always found wandering barefoot in the woods, listening. As a child, she claimed the tree spoke to her. People smiled politely, assuming it was a child’s imagination. But Aira never stopped listening.

One summer night, lightning struck the forest. Trees fell. Fire spread. Yet when dawn broke, the Echo Tree stood untouched, surrounded by a perfect circle of untouched ground. Aira was seen entering the woods, but she never returned.

Years passed. Then one day, a young child from the village wandered to the tree. As he placed his hand on its bark, he swore he heard a soft voice whisper his name—Aira’s voice.

And from that day forward, the villagers listened more carefully to the wind, the rustling leaves, and the silence between heartbeats. Nature, they realized, was never truly quiet. It simply waited to be heard.

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