In the kingdom of Valtor, chaos reigned supreme. The mysterious plague which swept through the land, claiming lives without warning. Corpses littered the outskirts, their faces frozen in death's grimace. King Alem's sorrow deepened with each passing day, as his people suffered and his sorcerers' efforts proved futile.
Within the palace walls, Helen went about her duties, her footsteps echoing through the corridors. She carried a basket of freshly laundered clothes, her hands moving with a practiced ease as she headed towards the ironing room. The warmth of the sun streaming through the windows offered a faint respite from the darkness outside.
As she walked, a sudden, piercing voice resonated within her mind. "Helen, Helen!" The call was so loud, so insistent, that she spun around, expecting to see someone nearby. But the palace staff bustled about, oblivious to the voice, their faces set in determined lines.
Helen's heart raced as she continued down the hallway, the voice growing louder, more urgent. "Helen, Helen!" It seemed to emanate from the very depths of her soul, leaving her breathless and bewildered.
She turned again, her eyes scanning the crowded corridor, but no one seemed to notice the strange phenomenon. The voice persisted, its cadence weaving a spell of wonder and trepidation. Helen felt an inexplicable pull, as if an unseen force beckoned her towards a hidden place.
With a sense of growing curiosity and trepidation, Helen followed the voice, her feet moving with a will of their own.
As she hastened towards the mountain, the voice grew louder, its urgency palpable. Helen's heart raced with anticipation, and she remembered the words of Eldrid, "come back in two days," she realized that it's already two days.
She pushed aside the branches of the forest, her feet pounding against the earth. The sun beat down upon her, its warmth countered by the chill of uncertainty. The mountain loomed ahead, its peak shrouded in a mysterious mist.
With a deep breath, Helen began her ascent, her hands grasping at roots and rocks to steady herself. The voice guided her, its melody weaving a path through the treacherous terrain. At last, she reached the mountain of Eldrid.
Helen stepped forward, her eyes scanning around to see Eldrid. And there, in the foot of the mountain, stood the spirit of Eldrid, its eyes aglow with an otherworldly intensity.
"Helen," Eldrid spoke, its voice like a gentle breeze, "this is the tome of Eldrid, I want you to have it."
With a sweep of its spectral arm, the spirit revealed a pedestal, upon which rested a book bound in a strange, glowing material. Helen felt an electric thrill course through her veins as she approached the tome, its pages whispering secrets in a language she couldn't quite understand.
The spirit's piercing gaze held hers as he continued, "a repository of ancient knowledge and magic. With it, you shall unlock the secrets of the land and bring peace to the land of Valtor."
Helen's heart raced as she reached out to accept the tome, her fingers closing around it as if drawn by an unseen force. The spirit's eyes gleamed with approval.
"Thank you, but how can I restore it to its rightful place in the ancient temple? It's noon, and the temple is heavily guarded," Helen asked.
"You can, Helen, the Tome of Eldrid will lead the way," the spirit of Eldrid replied.
"But...?"
"What is more important is that you cannot do it without a great magic. It was removed from its position through an ancient spell, and you must use a powerful incantation to restore it," Eldrid's spirit said.
"What am I to do, great Eldrid? Where can I find this great spell?" Helen asked.
"You do not need to find it, just close your eyes and open your mind, and I will inscribe the words in your thoughts," the spirit said.
And Helen closed her eyes and opened her mind, and Eldrid stretched his hands, casting the spell:
"Azura'thikriel, kal'dorvani, val'torviel, el'gorothi, tomi'reldrid, zha'thikriel!"
The words echoed in Helen's mind, a language she didn't understand, but somehow felt the power and ancient wisdom behind them.
"Go, Helen," Eldrid's spirit commanded, its voice echoing in her mind. "A great wind will carry you to the maids' quarters. Trust in the power of the Tome."
Helen felt a strange sensation wash over her, as if the air itself was shifting and swirling around her. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found herself standing in the familiar surroundings of the maids' quarters. The ancient Tome of Eldrid lay by her side, its leather cover creaking softly as she moved.
Just then, another maid, Anna, walked into the room, a look of curiosity on her face. "Helen, what are you doing? You're supposed to be working, not sleeping," she said, eyeing Helen's prone form on the bed.
Helen quickly scrambled to her feet, using her bedsheets to cover the tome. "I must have fallen asleep, Anna. I'm so sorry. I'll get back to work right away," she replied, trying to sound as natural as possible.
Anna nodded, seemingly convinced. "Alright, but be quick about it. We have a lot to do today." She gathered what she needed and left the room, leaving Helen alone once more.
As soon as Anna was gone, Helen quickly hid the scroll in her clothes, her heart pounding with excitement and a hint of fear. She knew she had to be careful - the Tome's power was great, but also dangerous. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and made her way out of the room, ready to face whatever lay ahead.