It was her younger self, but not as she had seen her before. Her eyes were sunken, her skin pale and drawn. She walked with an unsteady gait, as if pulled by some unseen force.
"Welcome," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been waiting for you."
Elia's heart skipped a beat as she approached her younger self. "What's happening?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Her younger self turned to her, a faint smile on her lips. "I've been changed," she said. "By the power of the box. And now I'm taking you with me."
As Elia watched in horror, her younger self's eyes turned black as coal, and she reached out a hand to grab Elia's arm…
Elia tried to pull away, but her younger self's grip was like a vice. She felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she struggled to free herself. But it was no use. Her younger self's strength was too great, and Elia found herself being pulled towards the desolate landscape.
As they walked, the sky grew darker, and the air grew colder. Elia could feel the weight of the box's power bearing down on her, threatening to consume her. She knew she had to think fast if she was going to escape.
But as she glanced back at her younger self, she saw something that made her blood run cold. Her younger self's eyes, once black as coal, were now glowing with an otherworldly light. The light pulsed with an energy that seemed to be drawing Elia closer and closer...
Suddenly, Elia remembered the words of the Keeper: "A promise is something that can be broken, but never held. And it is something that can be given, but never sold." She realised that the box was a promise, one that had been made by someone long ago. And now, it was Elia's turn to keep it...
With newfound determination, Elia reached out and grabbed her younger self's hand, holding it firmly in her own. "No," she said, her voice firm. "I won't let you take me with you."
As she spoke, Elia felt a surge of power flow through her. The pulsing light from her younger self's eyes began to fade, and the darkness around them receded. Her sister's grip on her arm loosened, and Elia was finally able to break free.
Together, they stood there for a moment, locked in a silent struggle. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, Elia pushed her younger self away and turned to face the desolate landscape.
"I won't let you use me," she said, her voice steady. "I won't let you take me with you."
And with that, Elia turned and walked away from her younger self, leaving the darkness behind…
As Elia walked, the darkness seemed to recede, replaced by a warm, golden light that seemed to emanate from the very earth itself. The air grew sweeter, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass. Elia's feet moved swiftly, her heart pounding in her chest as she put distance between herself and her sister.
She didn't dare look back, afraid of what she might see. Instead, she focused on the path ahead, her senses heightened as she scanned the landscape for any sign of danger.
As she walked, the landscape shifted and changed around her. The desolate wasteland gave way to a lush forest, its trees tall and green, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. Elia's eyes widened as she took in the beauty around her, feeling a sense of peace wash over her.
But her peace was short-lived. As she walked deeper into the forest, Elia began to notice strange markings on the trees. They seemed to pulse with a soft, blue light, and Elia felt a shiver run down her spine. Elia was thinking about something.
"What the hell is happening with me? I need to unveil Cloye and his so-called son Cris's real colour. But in this village I found some strange feelings. And I did not break free from it. I need to find my grandma's maid and so many others. What am I doing?"
Elia sighs and is upset about her recent situation. She questioned herself.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind a tree. It was an old man, his face lined with age and wisdom. His eyes twinkled with a deep understanding, and he spoke in a voice that was both ancient and timeless.
"Welcome, Elia," he said. "I have been waiting for you."
Elia's heart skipped a beat as she approached him. "Who are you?"
she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I am the Keeper," he replied. "And you have come to fulfil an ancient promise."
Elia's eyes narrowed. "What promise?" she demanded.
The Keeper's eyes twinkled. "The promise of the box," he said.
"A promise made long ago, when the world was young and magic was real."
Elia's eyes widened as the truth dawned on her.
"You're talking about the box my younger self had," she said.
The Keeper nodded. "Yes," he said.
"The box that holds the power of the ancient ones. A power that can be used for good or evil."
Elia felt a surge of determination.
"I won't let it be used for evil," she said.
The Keeper's eyes gleamed with approval. "I knew you were the one," he said.
"Come, Elia. Together, we will unlock the secrets of the box and use its power to bring light to the world."
Elia felt a surge of excitement and trepidation as she followed the Keeper deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller and the air grew thick with an otherworldly energy. She could feel the weight of the box's power coursing through her veins, drawing her closer to the secrets it held.
As they walked, the Keeper told her stories of the ancient ones who had created the box, of the power it held, and of the darkness that had sought to claim it. Elia listened intently, her mind racing with questions and doubts.
"To be continued
Stay tuned"