Dawn was hazy, and a breeze rippled the surface of a lake in the silent forest.
Not far away stood a pavilion. A woman in a white robe sat within it, tilting her head as she watched the spring waters ripple in the wind. Her fiery red hair fluttered faintly in the forest breeze.
Calling it spring water was not quite accurate, since this place had no concept of seasons. Every day here held the temperature of late spring and early summer, and it had been that way for many years. Though the scenery was pleasant enough, seeing it too often inevitably grew tiresome.
Dense forests surrounded the woman, stretching as far as the eye could see. Birds chirped in the distance, as if singing.
At the distant mountain peaks, clusters of village buildings could vaguely be seen, with figures moving among them. It looked like a human settlement.
The red-haired woman lazily yawned, looking thoroughly bored. Listening to the birdsong in the forest, she slightly parted her lips and began to sing.
Her voice was ethereal and melodious, carrying an indescribable rhythm, as though it could purify one's heart and cleanse the souls of all things.
As her song rang out, colorful birds began circling in the sky, dancing above the pavilion as though harmonizing with her—or keeping the beat.
"Mito, so you were here. What a leisurely mood you're in." A voice suddenly rang out. A figure slowly emerged from the nearby forest, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. The circling birds and hidden beasts showed no reaction, as if nothing had happened.
The woman's song abruptly stopped. She spun around, delight appearing on her face, but in the next instant, her expression turned unfriendly. The birds circling overhead stopped with the song and scattered in every direction.
"Hmph,