The portal shimmered before Reya, an ethereal gateway that thrummed with the power of two worlds. It stood like a ripple in time and space, flickering between the reality she had fought so hard to protect and the one she had left behind. The Seren hovered beside her, its form radiant and calm, embodying the peace and wisdom of ages past.
Reya stood at the threshold, her heart heavy with the weight of what she was about to leave behind. The land around her was quiet now, the forest peaceful and alive with the sounds of a world healing from the scars of war. She could still smell the faint scent of the battlegrounds—ashes, iron, and sweat—but now, mingled with that was the sweet, fresh air of renewal. The timeline she had helped save would endure, she knew that in her soul.
But there was a pull, something more profound than nostalgia, something that spoke to her from deep within her bones. Her original timeline, the world she had once fought so desperately to defend, was calling her back. The Seren had appeared to tell her that this timeline had found its peace, but her own was in need of her again, not as a warrior, but as a protector of peace.
The Seren's voice, gentle yet commanding, interrupted her thoughts. "The time has come, Reya. You have given all you could to this world, and it is now in the hands of those who will continue your work. But your home, the world you came from, awaits you."
Reya glanced at the swirling portal, feeling the energy it radiated tug at her like the current of a river pulling her downstream. The thought of returning to the timeline where she had once known fear, loss, and struggle made her heart ache with both joy and apprehension.
"I thought this would be my home," Reya admitted softly, her voice barely louder than the whisper of the wind. She looked around the forest she had fought so fiercely to protect, the allies she had come to love now scattered across the land, rebuilding in the wake of Orion's fall. "I thought I would stay here."
The Seren inclined its head, the light around it pulsing gently as it spoke. "You have left your mark on this world, Reya. The peace here is a reflection of the battles you've fought and the sacrifices you've made. But your role here is complete. There is another place where your presence is needed—your true home."
Reya sighed, feeling the gravity of the moment settle deep into her chest. Her time here had been filled with challenges and heartbreak, but also moments of profound growth and triumph. And yet, deep within her, she knew the Seren was right. Her journey in this world had come to an end.
"I've spent so long fighting," Reya whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how to be anything else."
The Seren moved closer, its form shimmering with a comforting warmth. "You are not just a warrior, Reya. You are a guide, a protector. Your role will change, but the strength you have cultivated will remain. You are not defined by the battles you fight, but by the peace you create."
Reya nodded, understanding dawning in her heart. It was time.
She stepped toward the portal, feeling its energy wrap around her like an embrace. The shimmering surface rippled at her approach, and for a moment, she hesitated, glancing back one last time. The forest, with its towering trees and quiet serenity, seemed to call to her, urging her to stay. But beneath that call was a deeper voice—the voice of her true home, her original timeline.
Taking a deep breath, Reya stepped forward.
The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the world shifted around her. The familiar ground beneath her feet dissolved into nothingness, and she was enveloped by a sea of light. It was not like any portal she had traveled through before. This was different—an ethereal, almost sacred passage between two realms. It wasn't a mere bridge between locations but a journey through the very fabric of time itself.
As she moved deeper into the portal, the light grew brighter, surrounding her in a soft, golden glow. It was warm and soothing, a stark contrast to the harsh, cold portals she had used in battle. The air seemed to hum with life, and she could feel the presence of the echoes all around her, swirling in harmony, guiding her home. Each step she took through the portal felt like shedding a layer of the past—each wound, each loss, each battle falling away, left behind in the light.
She thought of Vidar, of the allies she had fought beside, and of the enemies she had faced. They were a part of her story, etched into her very soul, but as she moved through the portal, she felt the weight of those memories begin to lift. They were no longer chains holding her to the past but threads in the tapestry of her life, woven into who she had become but no longer defining her every moment.
Reya's mind drifted to the version of herself in this timeline. What would her absence mean here? She had fought long and hard to protect this world, to bring it peace. But as she moved forward, the echoes within her pulsed with reassurance. This world would survive without her. It had been shaped by her presence, but it would thrive on its own.
The journey through the portal stretched on, timeless yet fleeting, a moment of pure transition. And then, suddenly, Reya felt a shift—a change in the air. The light around her began to dim, not into darkness but into the familiar hues of a world she had once called home.
The portal opened, and Reya stepped through, her heart pounding in her chest. She emerged onto a hill bathed in the soft glow of a setting sun. The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, the clouds drifting lazily across the horizon. Below her, she could see the village she had once known, now peaceful and thriving.
The air was warm, carrying the scent of wildflowers and freshly turned soil. Birds chirped in the distance, and the quiet murmur of life in the village reached her ears. It was serene, untouched by the chaos she had left behind.
The weight that had pressed so heavily on her heart for so long was gone. She felt light, almost as if she were floating. The battles, the war, the pain—it was all behind her now. Before her lay a world that had found peace, and it was here, in this timeline, that she would begin again.
Reya looked down at her hands, feeling the echoes within her hum softly, no longer charged with the energy of war but with the gentle pulse of life. The Seren's voice echoed in her mind one last time.
"You are home, Reya. This is where you are meant to be. Not as a warrior, but as a guide. Peace has been won, but it must be nurtured. This world needs you."
Reya smiled softly, a sense of profound peace settling over her. She was home.
And this time, she would not have to fight. This time, she would protect the peace she had fought so hard to achieve.
With one last glance at the horizon, Reya took a step forward, the portal closing behind her as she walked through the portal.