Ellara was sitting by her window at sun set in Aeloria, tracing the usual designs on the wooden plate. She understands how to put the knife through every marked line, Her work does not allow her to rest as she desires to attain great heights in this work. The village environment around her was calm, with winding stone laid streets and small mud buildings with thatch roofs, these type of roofing causes much heat to her spirit that likes to explore.
Aeloria was a place that simple people like to live as their home, farmers, blacksmiths, and traders who find it convenient to do their businesses every day. But Ellara was was not like them. She looked forward to something more, something beyond what she knows about her life limitations. Her eyes would once in a while move to the Whispering Woods, an unexplanable separation between the what we know and what we do not know.
The woods mean more than just ordinary trees to the villagers. They speak slowly stories of creatures that you cannot see and understand well, creatures with shining eyes, and spirits capable of stealing memories. While some people talk of them with fear, Ellara feel quite different about them. The forest seems full of life pumping with an energy that talks to her in a language only she could understand.
Downstairs, they were having their evening meal quietly. When one looked at her mother's eyes it shows she is disturbed, her father feels so concerned that he does not have words to explain. They were good people, but their fears was a family trait they naturally passed to their daughter.
After the meal, Ellara went back to her bedroom. The night was so cold that she felt it through the walls, as she brought out a wooden box hidden under her bed. Her special important instruments that she always used, were kept inside. These are: a compass with a broken glass, a smooth stone cut out with mysterious symbols, and a old map marked with a fine looking blank area that is titled "The Unknown".
The stone is a special one. Her father had discovered it near the woods some years ago and gave it to her as a gift. As time went on, it had proven to be more than just a rock. It was something that will serve as a key to open the hidden things that lie in front of the tree line. When she touched it, a low humming noise seemed to pass through her fingers.
The village seems to go into a silent time, Ellara was looking at the moon as its light shine on the woods. For a short period, she thought of quietly running out, her heart was beating telling her she can do it. But she recalled her parents' warnings that held her, holding her back from the mysterious forest that was always calling her.
"She hope to make it one day," she whispered, holding tight the stone, a promise to herself and whatever awaited her in the future.
Scene 6: A Diary of Secrets
As she got back in her room that night, Eve sat cross-legged on her bed with the artifact lying in front of her. The events of the day remained fresh in her mind, and her curiosity burned stronger than her fear. She went and carried her father's old leather-bound journal, the only keepsake he had left behind. Going through its worn pages, her attention was drawn to an entry dated six months before his death."The artifact is not just a relic; it is a key. The stones hold a power tied to the fate of this world. I've seen the warnings it has given, but I can't turn back now."Eve's hands trembled. She had read the journal over and over again, but this entry seemed to carry new level of information after what she had seen in the woods. What power was her father referring to? And why had he been so over bothered about the Whispering Woods?She ran her fingers over the faded handwriting. Her father had died under mysterious circumstances, his body was found just outside the forest. The authorities had called it an accident, but Eve had never believed them.The journal held more questions than answers, and Eve vowed to search to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
Scene 7: The Night Visitor
Sleep could not come easily that night. Eve continue to roll and turned, her dreams were filled with flickering images of the ghostly figure, shining stones, and whispering voices. She woke up suddenly with a surprise, her room was flooded with silver moonlight. At first, she thought the sounds were part of her dream, but then she heard it again, a faint tapping on her window. Her heart was pounding, she moved out of bed and went towards the window carefully. A figure was standing outside, not moving in the shadows, staring up at her."Who is standing there?" she whispered, her voice could not be heard. The figure did not answer but raised a hand, and pointed toward the woods. Eve blinked her eyes, and the figure was gone. She leaned against the window, her breath was so much that it was making noise with the glass. Was it the same man she had seen in the woods earlier? Or was it something else?Her face moved to the artifact on her bedside table. Its symbols shined faintly in the darkness, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Scene 8: Unearthed Truths
The next morning, Eve met Sarah at a local café. She hadn't mentioned the night visitor, but her tired look was evident."You look like hell," Sarah said, pushing a coffee cup toward her."Thanks," Eve muttered. "Listen, I found something in my dad's journal last night. It says the stones are connected to some kind of power."Sarah frowned. "What kind of power?""I don't know. But my dad believed the artifact was a key to unlocking the power."Sarah leaned back in her chair. "This is sounding more and more like a bad horror movie. Maybe you should let this go."Eve shook her head. "I can not let it go. My dad died as a result of this, Sarah. I need to know why."Before Sarah could respond, a man approached their table. He was tall and he had wide shoulders, his piercing green eyes made him to be recognized at once."You are not safe here," Cassian said, his voice low. Eve stood quietly. "What are you doing here?""I am here to protect you and keep you alive," he said. "We need to talk. Now."
Scene 9: The Watchers in the Shadows
Cassian led them to a less busy park on the outskirts of the town, his demeanor was tense."You were noticed by the artifact when you touched it," he explained, his eyes moving between Eve and Sarah. "That mark is a beacon for those who seek its power."Eve crossed her arms. "And who are you? I am some kind of guardian?""Something like that," he said. "My job is to make sure the artifact is safe and that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. And to protect people like you from what comes with it.""People like me?""That sounds too curious, reckless, and far too stubborn for your own good," he said, beaming a weak smile slightly. Before Eve could want to talk, Sarah pointed toward the trees. "What is that?"Dozens of shadowy figures came out from the line of trees, their movements unnatural and their eyes glowing faintly."Stay behind me," Cassian ordered, pulling a blade from his coat.The figures launched an attack, and trouble started.
Scene 10: The Forgotten Path
After the attack, Cassian led them back into the woods, insisting they needed to find the stones again."The clearing is a nexus point," he explained as they bend pushing through the grasses. "It is where the artifact's power is operating strongest."Eve looked at Sarah, she was looking pale and shaken. "Are you okay?"Sarah nodded weakly. "I'm starting to regret being your friend."As they got nearer to the clearing, the whispers returned, louder and more persistent than before. The trees seemed to cover around them, with their branches reaching out like claws.Eve felt as if the artifact was growing heavy in her bag, its warmth almost unbearable."We are close," Cassian said. "Stay alert."
Scene 11: The Second Vision
When they got to the clearing, the stones were already shining, while their light casted unnatural shadows across the ground. Eve paused, she recalled the memory of the ghostly woman fresh in her mind."What do I do now?" she asked. Cassian signaled toward the artifact. "Place it in the center."Reluctantly, she did as he instructed. The ground shoked, and the ghostly figure appeared once more."You have come again, despite my warning," the woman said, her tone was filled with sorrow."I need you to give me answers," Eve said, stepping forward. "What is this artifact? What happened to my father?"The woman's facial look softened. "The answers you seek will not come easily. The artifact is a revealing tool, but it is also a curse. If you wish to uncover the truth, you must be prepared to face the uncertainty that lies ahead."Before Eve could respond, the vision faded, and the clearing fell silent