They didn’t stay forever.
Lumina Lagoon wasn’t meant for that.
Before leaving, Gilbert dipped the memory stone into the glowing water. It absorbed a soft radiance — not power, but understanding.
When they turned back, the lagoon didn’t disappear.
It simply softened.
Hidden again, but not lost.
The journey home felt different. Easier. Not because the way had changed — but because Gilbert had.
When Glimmergill’s lights finally appeared in the distance, Gilbert felt joy instead of restlessness.
Grandpa Axol was waiting.
He listened quietly as Gilbert told the story — the valley, the Keeper, Bip, the lagoon.
When Gilbert finished, Grandpa smiled, eyes shining.
“The ocean chose well,” he said.
Bip climbed onto the old explorer’s head and chirped proudly.
That night, Gilbert added two things to his treasure shelf:
A glow-warmed memory stone.
And a space — left open.
Because some magic isn’t meant to be kept.
It’s meant to be followed.
And somewhere beneath the shimmering waves of Nymara, the Lost Lagoon of Lumina glowed softly — ready to listen again, when the next curious heart learned how to swim forward.