Elara opened her eyes just as the gray and gloomy light of the dawn began to creep over the horizon, and she slowly sat up. As she looked around, she couldn't see Ceyhun or Aric. There was no trace of the crew either. For a moment, she was at a loss, staring at the charred remains of the extinguished campfire. A familiar sense of loneliness settled in her heart. Ever since her parents had died and Lyra had abandoned her, she had woken up with this feeling of isolation every morning in her desolate cabin. The villagers had distanced themselves from her. As the sister of the treacherous Lyra, she was seen as an outcast, dabbling in unknown powers just like Lorthar. No one had formed a bond with her, except for Aric, one of the bravest young men of the village. Always proud of his fearlessness, Aric had sought to prove his courage by befriending a dangerous sorceress. But now, even he was gone. The loneliness she felt quickly turned into sudden panic.
"Elara, stay calm," she whispered to herself, but the unease within her was growing. She quickly stood up and scanned the surroundings. Despite the mist narrowing her vision, she could make out the crew some distance away, hurriedly repairing the boat. She swiftly approached the ship's captain and asked in a firm voice, "Where are Ceyhun and Aric?"
The captain, the oldest among the crew, looked at her with anxious eyes and whispered, "The mist took them, my lady. If you don't want the same fate to befall you, return with us to the village. As soon as the boat is fixed, we're leaving these cursed lands. Please, come with us."
Elara froze for a moment. The thought of the crew intending to flee without even attempting to search for Ceyhun and Aric fueled her anger. She addressed the crew, who were busy with the repairs, in a cold and determined tone, "What's happening to you? I am the sorceress of Falden Village! You were assigned by Haldor himself to follow my orders and instructions. You will not take a single step from here! You will stay until we find my friends and complete our mission!"
The concern on the captain's face gave way to a resolute determination. He spoke again, in a cold voice, "Our duty was to bring you to the edge of the Cursed Lands, my lady. We have fulfilled our task, and the cost has been heavy." With a grave expression, he looked toward the deck, where Rami's body lay wrapped in blankets. Elara's eyes followed his gaze, and then she met Haldor's eyes. They both looked away, and a brief silence hung between them.
The old seaman continued, "We're going back to survive. If you are determined to stay, may the gods be with you." He then turned back to the other crew members and resumed the repairs.
Elara glanced at Rami's lifeless body once more. She feared that Ceyhun and Aric might share the same fate. The prophecy that the mists would not harm Ceyhun now seemed wrong, deepening the despair within her. She thought of everyone she had lost—her mother, father, and especially Lyra. The captain was right; returning was the only way to survive. Yet, with a growing determination inside her, she vowed, "Never again!" She had no intention of turning back or abandoning Aric and Ceyhun to their fates.
---
Elara gripped her magic staff tightly in both hands as she pressed forward with determined steps. The thick mist shrouded everything like a curtain; the only things guiding Elara's footsteps were the faint contours and shadows barely visible in the fog. As she struggled onward, memories from her past, which she could never leave behind, began to resurface in her mind.
Dusk had settled over Falden Village, and cool winds rustled the dry straw on the clay-and-thatch roof of the stone-walled barn. Young Lyra, as she shoveled the accumulated manure of the livestock out through a small hole in the barn, couldn't help but think about how disgusting the task was. When she paused to catch her breath and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, she carelessly stepped backward. Her foot twisted, and she stumbled to the ground. In a fit of anger, she flailed her arms as if cursing the world. But as she did, sparks flew from her hands, instantly igniting the heap of straw atop the feed trough.
The flames spread rapidly, and in no time, the entire structure was engulfed. Trapped within the fire, Lyra screamed in terror, "Help!" Her cries roused the villagers, who rushed to the scene, bringing buckets of water to combat the blaze.
When Lyra's father heard his daughter's desperate screams, he tried to rush into the flames to save her, but the villagers held him back. Helpless and restrained, his eyes remained fixed on the barn, now consumed by fire.
Elara was out for a walk near the barn when the fire broke out. As soon as she heard her sister's cries, she charged into the flames without hesitation, driven by the courage of youth.
She couldn't see anything through the smoke and soot; the searing and toxic air clung to her lungs with every breath. With one final effort, she reached Lyra, who lay unconscious on the ground, but she was too exhausted to lift her or drag her out. Within seconds, Elara, like her sister, would collapse into unconsciousness. Just then, the supports of the roof, weakened beyond their limit, suddenly gave way, collapsing toward Elara and Lyra. Instinctively, Elara raised her hands in a desperate attempt to shield herself. Without understanding what was happening, a cold stream flowed from her hands, concentrating over the flames and solidifying into crystalline ice shards.
The shards quickly fused, forming a single solid block of ice that extended from the collapsing roof to the ground. The sudden chill and the ice smothered the flames at the heart of the fire. As Elara's strength drained away, she barely had time to register the miracle she had created before she passed out.
When Elara slowly opened her eyes, she found her parents by her bedside, their faces filled with concern. Lyra lay beside her, gradually regaining consciousness. Haldor, the village's elder seer Talinda, and her aide Elowen were also present.
The elderly seer approached Elara and Lyra slowly, a gentle and understanding smile appearing on her tired, lined face. In a warm voice, she spoke while holding the girls' hands, "You both went through something very difficult, but thank the gods, you're safe. Know this, the fire that started and the one that was extinguished were both caused by the power within you. This power is called Nun energy. It is a great force, but it can be dangerous if not controlled. Since this power is very different from our seers' nature, we cannot help you. But don't worry, there is a way to learn how to manage it. We must send for Master Eldrin, for only he can show you this path."
As Elara searched for Aric and Ceyhun through the mist, memories in her mind were as clear as the rushing waters of a spring. She knew that to survive, she needed to focus on the present moment.
---
Around Elara, there seemed to be nothing but the gloomy silhouettes of withered trees. As she pressed on, these desolate trees gradually gave way to jagged cliffs with sharp, angular edges. She found herself within a passageway that stretched across the floor of a deep valley. When she crossed the passage and reached a broad plain, the sight before her was horrifying: she walked through a field of terror, filled with the skulls of humans and animals impaled on stakes.
Undeterred, Elara continued forward. The thick layer of mist, rising to her knees, made it difficult to see the ground. Her steps occasionally caught on the dried tree trunks and decayed animal bones scattered across the terrain. Silence was the only melody that reigned amidst these decaying remnants. As she advanced, the damp and foul stench grew stronger, seeping into her lungs, planting its dark poison like a seed within her.
At last, Elara reached a narrow bridge formed naturally from the surrounding rocks, connecting the two edges of an abyss. At the bridge's entrance, a four-legged creature stood guard. Elara prepared her spells.
As she approached, she anticipated a hostile move from the creature, but it didn't act as she expected. Drawing nearer, she realized it wasn't a wild animal, but something else entirely. As the distance closed, the creature's shape and contours became clearer. Its claws resembled those of a reptile, while its body bore the muscular form of a predatory mammal. It had membranous wings similar to those of a bat, though they were tattered and full of holes, like a worn-out rag. Behind it, a long, pointed tail, reminiscent of a large rat's, swayed ominously. The creature's eyes, gleaming with a trace of intelligence, fixed on Elara, accompanied by a sneering grin that revealed its grotesque, sharp teeth. Its eye sockets were so deep, and its pupils so small, they appeared like two stars gleaming in the dark sky.
The creature's gaze seemed to pierce into the depths of Elara's soul. She couldn't tear her eyes away from those dark, penetrating orbs. In a cracked voice that hissed through its sharp teeth, the creature spoke: "You are permitted to cross this passage, sorceress. But know that anyone who passes through here..." it continued, "...will be followed by the ghosts of their past."
The darkness in the creature's eyes deepened so profoundly that it pulled Elara into it. The young sorceress now found herself in the heart of a void, an endless expanse of emptiness as far as the eye could see. There was no sound, no light, and no flow of time here. If not for her mind and consciousness, she might have believed that her very existence had been completely erased. She stumbled forward blindly, reaching out in vain for something to hold onto, but found nothing material in the void.
Finally, she spotted a light, like a distant star shining far away, and she oriented herself toward it. This light, flickering on the horizon, now illuminated her path. Her steps were tentative, as if she were floating through the void, yet she continued onward. Forgotten ancient beings, lost in the darkness, watched over her eerie journey. She had forgotten everything. But what was there to remember? "Who am I? Am I dead? How can I recall death when I'm not even sure if I'm alive?" These questions echoed within her. She sensed the darkness was malevolent, and the light was her salvation; she longed for life.
---
Then she remembered, "I... Yes, I am Elara. The sorceress of Falden Village, apprentice to Master Eldrin. Now I remember," she thought. "How the Nun energy surged through my veins, the enchanting glow in my sister Lyra's green eyes... The glimmering ripples on the Karna River, the cool scent of the moss." Her mind locked onto a memory resonating from the depths of the past.
In the sky, the last light of a crimson dusk held sway. A lively bustle continued among the small houses of Falden Village. Elara and Lyra worked diligently by the stone oven in front of their small cottage. The wind carried the scent of the forest, sweeping dry straw from the rooftops, and the shadows danced in the breeze.
"Lyra, don't add too much salt! The feast must be perfect," Elara whispered, her hands immersed in the dough. Lyra responded with a smile, but beneath that warm expression was a deep unease. The arrival of the wizard Eldrin in the village was a significant event for everyone; however, for Elara and Lyra, it could be the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Eldrin was going to conduct a test on the village's young wizard candidates, and the outcome of this test would determine whether they were worthy of being trained.
At the feast table, there were meats cooked over a wood fire, fresh bread, and the best fruits the village had to offer. But with Eldrin's arrival, the atmosphere completely changed. Despite the villagers' excitement, the old wizard sat at the table with a distant demeanor. Under the wary gazes of the children, he ate very little and spoke even less. For him, the evening feast was merely a formality; the real matter at hand was something far deeper and more important.
As soon as the meal ended, Eldrin turned to Elara and Lyra and quietly said, "The time has come. The test is about to begin."
The two sisters exchanged a brief glance at the wizard's words. The anxiety in Lyra's eyes mingled with the excitement within Elara. Eldrin led them to a clearing just outside the village, at the edge of the dense forest. On a cloudless night, only the light of the full moon illuminated the dark corners of the forest.
Wizard Eldrin raised his staff and drew a circle on the ground. The circle immediately glowed, forming an area filled with nun energy. Elara and Lyra stood in the center of the circle. Eldrin stepped back and initiated the first stage of the test.
"The test is quite simple," Eldrin said, his voice carrying the calm of a sage. "You will summon the nun energy within this circle to your command. But summoning it is not enough; you must shape and transform it to create your own spell. Remember, a wizard does not merely rely on the nun energy at hand. They develop, shape, and, if necessary, create entirely new spells."
Previously, albeit unwillingly, Lyra had created fire, and Elara ice, using nun energy. However, in their later attempts, they were unable to effectively harness these powers. Especially Lyra, who had been holding back since the accidental fire she had caused, constantly trying to control her energy.
Elara took a deep breath, focusing all her attention. As the nun energy resonated within her veins, she initially struggled to control it. But by clearing her mind, she managed to sense the energy. To transform this energy, she focused on the surrounding elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Each was a different manifestation of nun energy, and Elara began to summon these elements to incorporate them into her spell.
Echoing Eldrin's words in her mind, Elara began to gradually shape the nun energy. Within the circle, earth, water, fire, and air converged in her hands. The earth solidified and became firm; the water sparkled in crystals; the fire intensified its warmth, illuminating its surroundings; and the air stirred, swirling like a wind around her. Elara successfully merged these four elements with the nun energy, creating a spell that was entirely unique and impressive.
Lyra lagged a few steps behind Elara. Although she managed to summon the nun energy, she struggled greatly to transform it. Eldrin's words echoed in her ears, but the energy refused to harmonize. The elements moved chaotically in her hands, making it impossible to find balance. Anxiety appeared on her face, but she had no intention of giving up. She tried to control the nun energy, but the power within the circle began to weaken. The elements started resisting her will. In a final effort, she tried to gather the energy, but she lost control, and the magical power within the circle dimmed. Lyra collapsed to her knees under the weight of failure.
"The test is over," Eldrin said, as he announced his decision. "Elara, you will come with me. I have much to teach you. Lyra... your path will continue elsewhere."
The villagers surrounded Eldrin, pleading, "Take Lyra too, teach her as well." Eldrin hesitated for a moment but did not back down. However, when Haldor secretly approached and whispered in his ear, he was forced to reconsider.
"Elara and Lyra's parents are dead," Haldor said in a low voice. "They have no one else but each other. Don't separate them. If you don't train Lyra, she won't be able to stay in our village. They've already been shunned, and the villagers fear they might cause another accident. Both of them must learn to control their powers. Please, train them both."
Eldrin turned to Lyra and spoke firmly, "I will give you one more chance. If you learn to control the nun energy, I will train you as well."
Lyra wiped away her tears and nodded resolutely. The pain within her was replaced by a determined resolve. She would never fail again. Elara, on the other hand, hugged her sister with joy. After a brief farewell to the villagers, they followed Eldrin.
Elara stumbled forward in the pitch darkness. As the light slowly approached, a mystical figure became clear. It was the spiritual reflection of Elowen. She gazed at Elara with a graceful and profound sadness. "Elara," said Elowen, her voice as soft and enchanting as a melody, "Listen to me. You must come to terms with your past, with Lyra, and most importantly, with yourself. If you wish to be free, you must forgive them all. Yourself and your sister…"
Elara took a deep breath as Elowen's image slowly faded away. A moment later, she found herself standing before the creature guarding the bridge. All that had just transpired lasted no longer than a single breath. Avoiding eye contact with the creature, she continued on her way.