Time lost meaning inside the forest.
There was no sun progression he could properly track.
Only shifting light between the two suns above the canopy.
But eventually—
The air changed again.
Not colder.
Not warmer.
Heavier.
Like pressure pressing against his skin.
And something in his mind reacted before his body did.
Danger.
Not immediate danger.
Important danger.
He slowed his steps.
Careful now.
Controlled.
Then he saw it.
A clearing.
And in the center of it—
A tree.
At first glance, it looked ordinary.
Tall.
Ancient.
Deep roots stretching into the ground like veins.
But then he noticed the details.
The bark wasn't normal.
It shimmered faintly under the light.
As if something inside it was moving.
And the fruits—
Eighteen of them.
Hanging evenly across its branches.
Each one glowing softly.
Like condensed light given physical form.
Andres stopped completely.
"…What is that?"
He whispered.
No answer came.
The forest behind him felt quieter now.
As if even it didn't want to interrupt.
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Each step made the pressure in the air increase.
His instincts screamed at him again.
Not danger this time.
But significance.
Something about this place mattered.
He reached the base of the tree.
Looked up.
The fruits glowed softly above him.
Not random glow.
Not decoration.
Energy.
He didn't understand it yet.
But his body did.
Because he felt it.
Warmth.
Not hunger.
Not fear.
But something that resonated deep in his chest.
Like his body recognized it as fuel.
"…Food?"
He muttered.
Then frowned.
"No…"
He corrected himself.
"…That's not food."
But his stomach disagreed.
It growled.
Loud.
Demanding.
The simplest biological truth overpowered logic.
He swallowed.
"…I can't just ignore that."
He climbed.