France, 1650s
After nearly two centuries of wandering the earth, Elysia had grown weary of her solitary existence. She had seen the rise and fall of empires, witnessed wars, and danced through countless lives, yet loneliness clung to her like a shroud. The weight of her immortality was heavy, and the world around her felt increasingly alien.
That was until she stumbled upon two young adults in a quaint village—a boy named Émeric and a girl named Giselle. At first, they were just faces in the crowd, but as fate would have it, they crossed paths during a local festival. Their laughter rang out like music, drawing Elysia in, and soon she found herself drawn to their youthful exuberance.
As they began to spend time together, Elysia felt the long-lost sensation of normalcy wash over her. They roamed the vibrant markets, shared secrets under starlit skies, and indulged in the simple joys of life that she had long forgotten. For the first time in years, Elysia allowed herself to laugh and enjoy moments without the burden of her past.
But as the seasons changed, so did her friends. Émeric and Giselle began to notice that Elysia remained unchanged while they aged, their youthful features softening into the realities of adulthood. The worry etched on their faces was unmistakable as they struggled to comprehend the secret she had hidden for so long.
One evening, after a day spent exploring the forest, they gathered by a flickering fire. Émeric looked at Elysia with concern. "There's something about you that's different," he said, his voice steady yet filled with trepidation. "You don't age like we do."
With a deep breath, Elysia revealed the truth of her existence—the night she had been changed, the curse of immortality that kept her forever young. As she spoke, the shadows of her past loomed over her, but the warmth of their friendship provided a comforting light.
Instead of fear, Émeric and Giselle were captivated. "You mean… you'll never grow old? You'll never die?" Giselle's eyes sparkled with a mix of awe and longing. "We don't want to grow old without you."
In that moment, they made a bold request that sent Elysia's heart racing. "Please, change us," Émeric pleaded. "We want to be with you forever, to share this life with you. We can't bear the thought of losing you."
Elysia hesitated, knowing the weight of such a decision. The transformation would bind them in ways they couldn't fully comprehend. But as she looked into their eager, hopeful faces, a flicker of warmth ignited within her. The thought of loneliness creeping back into her life was unbearable.
Under a sky glittering with stars, she performed the ritual, infusing her friends with the gift—and burden—of immortality. Émeric and Giselle transformed before her eyes, the bond of their friendship sealing into something deeper. In that moment, they became family, united by a shared fate, ready to face eternity together.
And as they embraced, Elysia felt a flicker of hope ignite within her heart. For the first time in centuries, she was not alone.