That starlight grew brighter in her meditation, as if answering something.
"You should try it too," Lily said to the others. "Meditate together on the light Lin Ye left in our hearts."
Though the others were skeptical, they did as she said. They sat in a circle, closed their eyes, and focused on the fragment of starlight within their hearts.
Something miraculous happened.
As they meditated together, the fragments of starlight in each of their hearts began to resonate, forming subtle connections with one another. Those connections not only made the starlight brighter, but also formed a faint protective field around them.
Most importantly, they discovered that the loss of their power had temporarily stopped. The constant sense of weakening vanished, replaced by a warm and steady strength.
"Wh-what is this?" An elderly blacksmith opened his eyes and was delighted to find that some of his ability to sense the nature of metal had returned.
Lily opened her eyes as well, hope shining within them. "It's Lin Ye... He's protecting us. When we gather together and think of him as one, the will he left in our hearts resonates and becomes a force that protects us."
The discovery spread quickly, like seeds of hope sprouting from soil steeped in despair. People began organizing Watchers Gatherings on their own, gathering in cities, villages, and even the wilderness.
In the royal palace of Alabasta, Princess Vivi presided over the first large-scale Watchers Gathering. Hundreds of Awakened Ones sat in the palace hall, holding hands to form an enormous circle.
"Let us remember Lin Ye's deeds together," Vivi's voice echoed through the hall. "Remember the sacrifice he made to save the world. Let our hearts connect as one, just as he wished."
The people closed their eyes and began sharing their memories of