Chapter 1

Lysander was a young man who lived in the village of Eldoria which was located in the green hills and the nearby forests. Lysander was tall, lean and had dishevelled black hair and deep blue eyes with a mysterious look which portrayed a child beyond his age, Lysander was a man that his village friends would consider rather a quiet scholarship man with an unusual longing for ideas. . 

This intellectual curve of Lysander was evident from a younger age; unlike most boys who spent their time outdoors hunting or training with swords, Lysander was often wandering the pages of the local library, looking for books and scrolls about a time when gods had once walked the earth among men if only in their distant past.

That was the day, however, when there was a crisp chill in the air when the smell of woodsmoke and fallen leaves were ubiquitous, once and for all. He was seventeen years of age and at the threshold of manhood and in his mind was filled thoughts of explorations to lands remote from Eldoria. He did, however, remain unaware of the fact that destiny had interlaced history with his future.

As Lysander made his way around the village square, he gradually remembered the strange pulsations which he dreaded experiencing in his sleep during the past few weeks-hallucinations of dark shapes encircled with a mouth that whispered Vocation. He had brushed them as mere distortion, the product of an overactive imagination fueled by his strong appetite for ancient lore.

"Hey, Lysander!" a voice called out. Breaking him out of his trance was Selene, an energetic young woman. Hazel eyes sparkled with mischief. She was Lysander's close friend and confidant and shared his love of academic pursuits and intellectual discourse.

"Selene," Lysander greeted her with a faint smile. Even though his mind was still occupied with the mysterious echoes that haunted him. "Why did you come here today?"

Selene's expression became serious as she approached him. Her eyes looked at his face with worry. "Have you heard any rumors, Lysander?" she asked quietly, looking around as if afraid to hear. Lysander furrowed his brow. "What rumors?"

"Whispers of a hidden shrine deep within the Forbidden Woods," Selene explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "They say it holds artifacts of ancient power, relics from a time when gods walked among mortals."

The mention of the Forbidden Woods sent a shiver down Lysander's spine. The forest was steeped in mystery and superstition, believed to be haunted by spirits and creatures that defied mortal comprehension. Tales of its dangers had kept villagers at bay for generations, yet the lure of forbidden knowledge and untold treasures beckoned to the adventurous and the curious.

"Do you believe these rumors?" Lysander asked curiously. Curiosity sparked within him, though. The prospect of discovering artifacts and revealing the secrets of Eldoria's past is enticing. But it's not scary.

Selene nodded earnestly. "I've been researching ancient texts," she confessed, her eyes alight with excitement. "There are references to a deity known as the Shadowed One, said to have been worshipped in secret by the ancient tribes of Eldoria. If there's any truth to these rumors, the shrine could hold clues to understanding our forgotten history."

Lysander considered her words carefully. His mind was full of possibilities. The echoes that haunted his dreams—images of power and domination—seemed to resonate with stories of shadows. Is there a connection between his visions and the ancient gods he secretly worshiped?

"I think we should investigate," Lysander suddenly decided, his voice laced with determination. "If we can reveal the truth about echoes and shadows, We cannot ignore it."

Selene looked at him with a mixture of admiration and concern. "It won't be easy," she warned in a serious tone. "Forbidden woods is treacherous . And who knows what dangers await us inside?"

"We will proceed with caution," Lysander assured her, even as his heart pounded with anticipation. "Collect all the information you can from your research. Meet at the edge of the village at dusk. We will continue our journey together."

With a nod of agreement, Selene hurried off, leaving Lysander alone with his thoughts. As he watched her disappear into the bustling village square, he felt a surge of excitement mingled with apprehension. This journey into the Forbidden Woods held the promise of uncovering ancient secrets and perhaps unlocking the mysteries of his own destiny.

Soon enough it was dusk and Lysander made his way to the edge of the forbidden woods to wait for Selene . She arrived soon after , clutching a bundle of maps and scrolls that she had gathered from the village archives .

"I've found references to the shrine in these texts," she explained, spreading out the ancient parchments before them. "It's said to be hidden deep within the heart of the forest, guarded by ancient wards and forgotten magic."

"I've found references to the shrine in these texts," she explained, spreading out the ancient parchments before them. "It's said to be hidden deep within the heart of the forest, guarded by ancient wards and forgotten magic."

And so , under the watchful gaze of the moon , they embarked on a journey that would lead them down a path of discovery.

The canopy of ancient oaks loomed overhead, casting elongated shadows that danced upon the forest floor as Lysander and Selene ventured deeper into the Forbidden Woods. The air was thick with the scent of earth and moss, punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl ,a haunting melody that underscored the eerie atmosphere of the forbidden realm.

Selene used the maps and scrolls to navigate and guide their journey through dense thickets and winding trails that seemed to twist and turn with a mind of their own. The forest grew denser as they ventured deeper with ancient trees towering overheard .

Lysander, look," Selene whispered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. She pointed ahead to a faint glimmer of light that filtered through the dense foliage—a beacon of hope amidst the oppressive darkness of the forest.

"There," Lysander acknowledged quietly, his heart quickening with anticipation. "The shrine must be nearby."

With renewed determination, they pressed forward, their senses attuned to the subtle whispers of magic that permeated the air. The forest seemed to come alive around them, as if responding to their presence with an ancient awareness that transcended mortal understanding.

After what felt like an eternity of navigating through the labyrinthine woods, they finally stumbled upon the hidden shrine—a small clearing bathed in ethereal moonlight, where ancient stones stood in silent reverence to a forgotten deity. The shrine itself was a modest structure, adorned with carvings of shadowed figures and inscriptions in a language that Lysander recognized from his studies—a dialect of ancient Eldorian script.

It's… beautiful," Selene breathed, her voice filled with awe as she stepped closer to examine the intricate carvings. "Imagine the secrets this place holds."

Lysander approached the shrine cautiously, his senses tingling with a mixture of excitement and fear. He traced the carvings with reverent fingertips, feeling a surge of energy pulse through the ancient stones—a resonance that seemed to echo within his very soul.

"Careful, Lysander," Selene cautioned, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily. "These carvings could be wards or traps set to protect the shrine."

e shrine felt alive with magic as Lysander approached cautiously, his heart pounding with awe and fear. He had barely touched the shrine's ancient stones when a surge of energy swept through him, resonating with the echoes of his past and future selves.

"Wow, it's reacting to you," Selene whispered, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched the runes shimmer brightly. She looked impressed but worried. "Be careful, Lysander. We don't know what this place can do."

But Lysander was too excited to listen to caution. The thrill of discovery pushed him to explore further into the mysteries of the shrine. He traced the intricate carvings with trembling fingers, each touch causing the ancient magic to pulse and glow.

As he reached for a beautiful artifact—a pendant with swirling patterns of light and shadow—a sudden burst of brilliant light exploded from it. Selene screamed as the magical blast enveloped her in a blinding flash.

"Selene!" Lysander cried out, fear gripping him as he rushed to protect her from the magical burst. The air crackled with energy, and the forest seemed to hold its breath, stunned by the sudden display of power.

When the light faded, Lysander found himself alone in the clearing, the shrine's stones still glowing faintly. There was no sign of Selene anywhere.

"Selene?" Lysander called out desperately, his voice echoing through the quiet woods. "Where are you?"

But there was no answer—just the eerie silence of the Forbidden Woods, now eerily still. Fear gripped Lysander's heart as he searched frantically, his mind racing through a thousand terrifying possibilities.

Had the artifact transported Selene somewhere else? Was she hurt, lost in the dark forest? Or worse, had she been swallowed up by the magical explosion?

Driven by desperation, Lysander scoured every inch of the clearing and beyond, calling Selene's name over and over. Shadows danced around him, cast by the flickering light of the shrine that seemed to mock his frantic search.

Hours passed like an eternity until Lysander found a clue—a piece of Selene's scarf caught on a thorny branch at the edge of the clearing. His heart leaped with hope as he followed the trail, his senses tuned to any sign of her presence.

The forest grew darker with each step, the ancient trees towering ominously above him. Yet, Lysander pressed on, determined to find his friend despite the growing dread in his heart.

At last, he came upon a peaceful clearing bathed in moonlight—a serene spot in the heart of the forbidding woods. Standing there, her back turned to him, was a lone figure.