Beneath the Withering Bloom

The Heart Tree has watched over Veradell for nearly a thousand years. Now, it is dying. When Master Botanist Evelis Morthea discovers a mysterious corruption spreading through the sacred tree's ancient roots, she is thrust into an investigation that reaches far beyond the bustling seaside city she calls home. Reluctantly paired with renowned wild harvester Darien Solvar, whose views on how botanical discoveries should be preserved and shared often clash with her own, Evelis follows a trail of impossible plant growth, displaced magical creatures, and forgotten journals deep into Elaris' untamed wilderness. As danger closes in and spirited academic debates give way to an unexpected romance, the pair uncover the remnants of a decades-old mystery surrounding Evelis' missing mentor. But someone has already tried to unlock that mystery without understanding the delicate balance that sustained them, and now the corruption is spreading beneath the roots of the Heart Tree. With the city on the brink of collapse and time running out, Evelis and Darien will find out whether their combined knowledge and experience is enough to save the home they love, or if the mystery they seek to solve is beyond them.