Our expedition ended prematurely. Captain Rostova decided it was too dangerous to explore further in that specific trench. We sailed back to port, carrying not just scientific data, but also the burden of an unbelievable experience.

I returned to my normal life, but the "normalcy" felt thinner than ever. The sculptures sat on my desk, silent witnesses to my journeys. The fused piece contained the heart of the forest, vibrant and life-giving. The mountain stone held the strength of the unchanging earth, ancient and enduring. And now, the third piece, the deep-sea structure, was connected to the power of the ocean, deep and vast.

I visited the Palm reader again. He smiled when he saw me, as if he had been expecting me.

“The water is quiet now,” he said. “The balance has been nudged back into place.”

??? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???

He listened patiently, his eyes calm and knowing. When I finished, he nodded slowly.