Corymbia's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Corymbia knelt beside the clay pot she had placed at the ancient tree's roots. The water inside was cloudy and still. She dipped her wooden fingers into the swamp and stirred, watching tiny plants begin to swirl and take shape. Young Deku spirits needed more than shelter—they needed food, clean water, and soil rich with life. But she didn't know enough yet. Corymbia stood and looked deeper into the swamp, where ancient stone pillars rose from the water. She had heard whispers of a library hidden there, filled with forgotten books about spirit care. She waded through the murky water until she reached the entrance. Inside, shelves stretched high above her, packed with old tomes covered in moss and dust. She pulled down a heavy book and opened it carefully. The pages showed drawings of young spirits drinking from shallow basins. They needed special nutrients mixed into their water. Corymbia returned to her sanctuary with new knowledge. She shaped a wide clay basin and set it near the ancient tree. Using the wooden ladle she carved from fallen branches, she mixed swamp water with crushed plants and minerals. She poured small portions into clay cups and arranged them around the basin's edge. When the young spirits arrived, they could each drink what they needed. The swamp grew colder as night approached. Corymbia gathered smooth stones and stacked them in a careful pile. She lit embers beneath them using dry moss and her breath. Heat rose from the stones, creating a warm space where fragile spirits could rest safely. The sanctuary grove was becoming real. Everything was ready for the young ones who would soon call this place home.