Free Book - Prequel of The Chronicles of Canes Venatici

Seraphiel - Planet 1 (part 1.3)

Part 1.3 – The PulseMoss Networks

Beneath your feet, the Pulse Moss seems to awaken, its delicate bioluminescent tendrils shimmering with the faintest of glows, like starlight caught in a gentle breeze. Each step you take across this spongy carpet of life sends a ripple of light across the moss, as if the ground itself is responding to your presence. But this is not a mere reaction—there is an intelligence here, something living and breathing beneath the surface, something that listens and responds to every emotion you carry.

The Pulse Moss is more than just an ornamental part of Seraphiel's ecosystem. As your footsteps press into its surface, you realize that it is the very heartbeat of this world, a conduit for the emotional energy that flows through every living thing on the planet. The moss doesn't just reflect light; it reflects emotion, absorbing the feelings of every creature that passes over it and redistributing that energy through its vast, unseen network. The moss is connected not just to the trees and plants of the forest, but to the very core of Seraphiel itself, and through it, to you.

You stop for a moment, your breath catching in your throat as you begin to truly feel the pulse of the planet beneath you. The faint hum of life vibrates up through your feet, traveling through your body in waves, as though you are now part of the system, another note in the grand symphony of Seraphiel. As the moss pulses, you can feel its energy reaching out, seeking connection not only with the flora but also with the fauna that inhabit this vibrant world. The trees around you, tall and ancient, seem to hum in response, their roots buried deep in the moss's living network, drinking in the emotional currents that flow through the soil.

Above you, the Resonance Reeds sway gently in the breeze, their delicate stalks catching the light as they move in time with the pulse of the moss. These reeds are no ordinary plants; they are amplifiers of the planet's emotional energy, resonating with the feelings that flow through the ground and sending them rippling out across the landscape. The air around you is thick with this energy, charged with the unseen currents that bind the ecosystem together in a delicate balance. You take a deep breath, and even the air seems to respond, thick with the weight of emotions both yours and the planet's, swirling together in a symbiotic dance.

As you continue to walk, you begin to notice how the Pulse Moss interacts with the world around it in ways that go beyond the physical. Its glow isn't just a response to light or pressure; it is a direct reflection of the emotions that pulse through the planet. When you feel calm, the moss glows softly, a steady, even light that spreads out from your footsteps. But when your thoughts grow more agitated, you see the glow intensify, flickering as though the moss itself is struggling to process the emotions you carry with you. It is a living, breathing organism, one that doesn't just exist in this world but shapes it, responding to the feelings of every creature that touches it.

Suddenly, in the distance, you spot movement—a group of Glow Fauna, small, bioluminescent creatures that flit across the forest floor, their tiny bodies glowing like fireflies in the dim light of dusk. These creatures are drawn to the Pulse Moss, feeding off the energy it emits and in turn amplifying its glow as they move across its surface. The interaction between the moss and the fauna is a symbiotic one—the moss provides sustenance for the creatures, and they, in turn, help to spread its light, carrying its energy across the forest floor like tiny stars scattered across the night sky.

As you watch the Glow Fauna dart back and forth, you begin to see the broader pattern of life on Seraphiel. Every creature, every plant, every element of this world is connected through the Pulse Moss in ways that are both intricate and profound. The moss acts as the nervous system of the planet, absorbing and redistributing emotional energy in a constant, flowing cycle that ensures the balance of the ecosystem. The Veilwood Trees, their roots intertwined with the moss beneath the surface, act as anchors for this energy, stabilizing it and ensuring that no part of the forest becomes overwhelmed by the emotional currents that flow through the ground.

But as you move deeper into the forest, you begin to notice something strange. The once-steady pulse of the moss is becoming erratic, flickering and faltering as though struggling to maintain its connection with the trees and the creatures that inhabit this world. The glow that once spread evenly across the ground now comes in fits and starts, brightening and dimming in irregular patterns. The air grows heavier, thick with a tension that wasn't there before, and you can feel the emotional energy of the planet shifting beneath your feet.

A group of Resonance Birds takes flight overhead, their wings catching the light as they rise into the sky. Their movements, once graceful and smooth, are now jerky and disjointed, as though they too are affected by the imbalance that is spreading through the ecosystem. The birds circle above you, their cries echoing through the trees, a haunting sound that only adds to the growing sense of unease that fills the air.

You stop and kneel, pressing your hand into the moss, trying to feel the pulse of the planet beneath you. But instead of the steady rhythm you felt before, the moss seems to shudder beneath your touch, its light flickering weakly as though it is struggling to stay alive. Something is wrong—something deep within the planet has shifted, and the delicate balance that has kept this world in harmony is beginning to unravel.

Future glimpse!
Without warning, the ground beneath you trembles, a sudden, violent jolt that sends a wave of energy rippling through the moss. The light flares up, blindingly bright, before flickering out entirely, plunging the forest into darkness. The hum of the planet grows louder, more insistent, as though it is crying out in pain. You stand frozen, unsure of what to do, as the once-vibrant world around you falls eerily silent. Something is coming, something powerful, and you are not sure if Seraphiel will survive it.

Olav J.'s Insight
"Seraphiel is a world that thrives on balance—its emotional ecosystem is as delicate as it is powerful. But what happens when that balance is disrupted? The Pulse Moss acts as a barometer for the planet's emotional health, but when it falters, the entire ecosystem is at risk. What do you think could cause such a disturbance, and how might it affect the creatures and plants that depend on this energy to survive? As you move forward, remember that every action has a consequence in a world as interconnected as Seraphiel."