Chapter 1335

Rose smiled, and the others gathered close, arms encircling bodies, lips brushing cheeks and shoulders.

"We plant it," Rose whispered. "And the island grows again."

They turned together, stepping into the light, into a new rhythm, a new beat, their bodies one song, their hearts one pulse.

The island welcomed them - not as visitors.

But as its chosen.

They emerged from the sacred chamber with the fruit still cradled in Rose's hands, its light softening as if sensing the shift in air. Outside, the jungle had changed. The colors were deeper, every green more vibrant, every petal open wider. The vines no longer clutched the paths with wary suspicion; they hung like garlands now, alive and attentive, bowing slightly as they passed.