Chapter 1 - A Dark Secret
For as long as she could remember, Alina had always been fascinated by magic. Even as a young girl, she would try to cast spells with a makeshift wand and a sense of wonder that never seemed to fade. But as she grew older, Alina learned that her love for magic wasn't shared by everyone. In her small village, superstitions ran deep, and anyone believed to be a witch - whether they had powers or not - was shunned and feared.
It wasn't until Alina discovered an old, dusty tome in her grandmother's attic, filled with spells and incantations, that she realized she might have the power to perform magic herself. And so, she began to practice in secret, taking care to hide her newfound abilities from everyone around her.
One day, feeling particularly bold, Alina decided to sneak into the woods to practice her spells in a secluded area. But as she began to cast a spell, something strange happened. The air grew colder, and the trees began to rustle in an unnatural way. Alina felt a chill run down her spine, and she turned to run back home.
But as she fled, Alina was suddenly plunged into darkness. She couldn't see a thing, and her heart raced with terror. It was only when she uttered a word of magic, a simple spell of light that she had learned long ago, that the darkness receded.
What Alina saw then was unforgettable. At the edge of the forest, obscured by shadows, was a tower unlike any she had ever seen. It glimmered in the dim light, with a strange and otherworldly beauty. And as Alina stood there, staring in wonder, she knew that she had to find out more.
But as she drew closer, Alina would learn that the tower held secrets far darker and more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.