Outside, the storm howled, a convulsion of thunder and pouring rain that mirrored the chaos in Arin's brain. He stood between the world of wakefulness and a land of dreams and sleep beat down upon him wave after wave, dragging him deeper and deeper into a fog of confusion. Flashes of his life flickered in and out of view—friends laughing in the schoolyard, his mother calling him for dinner, the familiar sights and sounds of his bustling city. But every time, as it flashed up, something didn't quite seem right, a background, persistent uneasiness.

Suddenly, the rumble of thunder jolted him awake. He narrowed his eyes at the light that leaked through the thick canopy above him, and his heart hammered in his chest because he realised now that he wasn't in his own room. It wasn't the icy, uneven floor beneath his feet, no, it was the absence of his bed, a forest floor it was, rough and damp with leaves. He sat up, bewildered, and surveyed his surroundings.

Giant trees reached up towards the sky, intertwined branches knotting into an overhead canopy that allowed through a thin strip of sunlight. It smelled of soil, of blossom, and a draught of cold air passed through the foliage, whispering in a sound like ghostly sibilance, raising gooseflesh on his arms. He pinched his eyes, trying to burn the sleep out of them, but as his senses came back, fear set in. He was alone in an unfamiliar world.

Hey? He said, his voice sounding like a murmur in the vastness of woodland quiet. Nothing answered except the rustling of leaves and the distant gurgling of a stream. He rose, shaking off the odd tunic he wore. The material was scratchy, nothing like his street clothes. His pockets were empty, his phone, wallet, everything he knew.

He breathed deeply, trying to stay cool. He began to walk, having no destination in mind but having to go somewhere. The wood throbbed, a colour he'd never witnessedᅳ greens and blues that pulsated, faintly fluorescent, lighting up the world around him. Running through the woods, the more the more the more, he'd hear scampering, the forms unknown, but interesting. The whole thing felt like a dream, so pure and beautiful yet with the fear of the unknown.

Then a voice spoke in his head, small but insistent. "You are in Eryndor, the Lost Realm. The words bounced around his brain, tripping him. He looked around, bewildered, but saw no one. "Who's there?" he demanded, but the voice continued, undeterred. "You have been chosen, Arin. Your arrival was destined."

"Chosen? For what?" Arin's heart raced. He felt foolish for speaking to a voice in his head but something in him was seduced. It sounded familiar, like something that belonged to him but he hadn't known he had.

'You are the Seeker,' the voice said, with a sense of urgency to the impassiveness. 'Eryndor is threatened, and only you can balance the scales.

"Seeker? Balance? He shook the fog of confusion out of his head. "I'm just a kid! I don't even know where I am!"

As if sensing his distress, the voice softened. "Look around you. The land is crying out for help. Shadows linger where light once thrived. You must embrace your destiny."

Arin's eyes scanned the trees, the odd brightness receding. A sudden chill ran through him. "This can't be real. 'I need to wake up,' he pinched himself, a nice pinch, but to no avail. The pain was acute, corporeal, grounding him in this strange world.

He stumbled forward, feeling lost. The forest observed him, heard him, and with each step, the ball in his stomach tightened. Then out of the darkness, a woman in silver. Her features were ethereal, with long, flowing hair that danced in the breeze. She seemed to glow, illuminating the darkness around her.

"Welcome, Arin," she said, her voice melodic, yet firm. "I am Selene, guardian of Eryndor."

"Guardian?" he echoed, trying to comprehend her presence. "What do you want from me?"

Selene stepped closer, her gaze piercing yet gentle. "You have been brought here for a reason. Eryndor needs you. Time has lost it, and its enchantment is dissipating. You are the Seeker who can awaken its heart."

"What does that even mean?" Arin felt overwhelmed. "I'm just a normal boy! I don't have any special powers or—"

'There is a force in you, which you have not discovered,' Selene said, her voice 'a wind whistle between the trees'. "It lies dormant, waiting for you to awaken it. 'Eryndor looks up and it has summoned you to restore the equilibrium.

"Why me?" he pressed, frustration bubbling to the surface. 'I'm not familiar with this place, this magic!

'Because you are brave enough to seek it,' she said, with a defiant gleam in her eye. "But you must first embrace your destiny."

Arin clenched his fists, battling the whirlwind of emotions. Part of him wanted to run, to find a way back to his normal life, but another part—something deep inside—felt a pull toward this mystical world. His fear was starting to be overwhelmed by his need to find out the truth about himself and his reason for being here.

Selene came closer, and in so doing she touched his shoulder. Heat, sunlight, bursting through a cloud, flowed through him. He breathed in power coursing into his veins, awakening something.

"What was that?" he breathed, his heart racing.

'You felt Eryndor's magic,' Selene said, her voice rising with pride. "It is a part of you now. With time, you will learn to harness it."

"Time? He swallowed hard, realizing the weight of her words. "What if I can't do this? What if I fail?"

"Failure is not the end, Arin," Selene replied. "It is part of the journey. Every fight you fight, you grow larger and stronger and smarter. Eryndor has its trials, and you must be prepared."

He took a deep breath, considering her words. It was an adventure, a quest for something that could bring a little clarity to the whole self question. But what awaited him in this land? Shadows played on his imagination, harbingers of the evil Selene had warned him of.

"What kind of challenges? he asked, fear creeping back into his voice.

"The Dark Hordes," Selene answered, her expression turning serious. 'Beasts of darkness and despair, spawned from the dark womb that consumes Eryndor. 'They are strong, they never let up, and they will do everything that they can to keep you down.

Arin's stomach churned at the thought. "How am I supposed to fight against that?"

"You will not be alone," Selene reassured him. "You will gather allies, other Seekers who have been called to aid you. Together, you will face the darkness."

He felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. Allies? Perhaps he wouldn't have to shoulder this burden alone. "Okay," he said, more to himself than to Selene. "I'll do it. I'll be the Seeker."

Selene's eyes sparkled with approval. "You have made the right choice. Eryndor wants you tough, and you will be you on the path.

As they pressed on with their walk in the woods, intentionality seemed to shape itself. It's just that he was so fixated on the secrets of this world and his place in it. Trees whispered secrets passing by, the woods vibrating with magic he could almost smell.

But as hope drifted to him, a sound, like a rumble of a growl, hissed through the air and turned his blood to ice. Shadows shifted in the distance, and Arin's heart raced.

Selene paused, her gaze sharp. "The Dark Hordes sense your presence. We must move quickly."

"What do we do?" he asked, fear gripping him.

'Just follow your gut,' she said, almost frantic. "And remember, the magic of Eryndor is with you. Embrace it."

The growl came, and Arin exhaled, the bite of Selene's words wrapping him in a coat of mail. He was a scared man but at the same time he was prepared for the future or whatever that may be.

Now determined, he took a step forward, to take his place as the Seeker of Eryndor.