The town of Veldar had always been a place of quiet simplicity. Nestled between thick forests and rolling hills, its residents lived routine lives, far from the noise and chaos of the outside world. The air was always thick with the smell of wet earth, the streets lined with cobblestones that had been worn smooth by generations of footsteps.

Kian Solis, like most people in Veldar, led an ordinary life. He helped his father in the blacksmith shop, fixing tools, shaping metal, and assisting with the forge. There was nothing exciting about his days. He wasn't a dreamer, nor was he discontent with his life, but every now and then, a strange sensation gnawed at him. It was a feeling, deep in his chest, that he was waiting for something—something that would pull him out of the monotony of his existence.

That night, as the fog rolled in from the distant mountains, Kian found himself walking along an old path near the edge of town. He had walked this way many times before, but tonight it felt different. The world around him was still and quiet, as if even the wind had decided to hold its breath. The pale glow of the moon filtered through the mist, casting everything in an eerie light.

His boots crunched softly on the leaves as he walked, his thoughts adrift. He didn't know why he had come here tonight. Maybe it was just the fog, or maybe it was something more, a pull he couldn't explain.

As he passed beneath the gnarled branches of an ancient tree, something caught his eye.

A faint, flickering light glowed from beneath the roots of the tree. It was soft at first, like a distant star, but as Kian approached, it grew brighter. His curiosity piqued, Kian knelt down, brushing aside the tangled roots. There, nestled in the earth, was an object—a book, its cover dark and smooth like polished stone. It shimmered faintly, as though it were not entirely of this world.

Kian hesitated. He had lived in Veldar his whole life, and nothing like this had ever appeared in the town before. He reached out, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the book's surface. The moment he touched it, a surge of warmth spread through his hand, a strange, crackling energy that sent a jolt up his arm.

The book was alive.

His heart raced as the world around him seemed to shift. The fog thickened, swirling around him in a vortex. The light from the book blazed brightly, and Kian felt a force pulling him forward, drawing him closer to it. He couldn't pull away. The book's presence consumed him, its power surging through him like fire.

And then, everything went dark.

---

When Kian opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the air.

It was different—crisp, tinged with the scent of something he couldn't place. He blinked, struggling to focus. The fog was gone, replaced by an open sky that stretched in shades of deep purple and violet. The ground beneath him felt soft, almost sponge-like, and the trees around him were unlike any he had ever seen. They were enormous, their trunks twisted and gnarled, and their leaves shimmered like silver in the moonlight.

He stood up, his head spinning. What happened? Where am I?

Kian looked down at the book still clutched in his hands. It had stopped glowing, but its weight seemed heavier now, as if it were pulling him toward something.

Panic began to set in as the reality of the situation hit him. This isn't Veldar. This isn't anywhere I know.

The world around him was silent, save for the rustling of the strange leaves. He took a step forward, then another, his senses alert. There was no sign of life, no sound of animals or distant voices. It was as if he had stepped into an entirely different realm.

A chill ran down his spine. How did I get here?

Suddenly, he heard a soft rustling in the distance. His heart skipped a beat. Slowly, Kian turned toward the sound, but when he looked, he saw nothing. The rustling stopped.

Then, a voice, low and unfamiliar, echoed in his mind.

You have crossed the threshold, Kian Solis. Welcome to the Realm of Doria.

Kian froze, his breath catching in his throat. His mind screamed for answers, but the voice didn't respond.

The air felt charged with something—something ancient, something powerful. Kian tightened his grip on the book, feeling a strange connection to it, as though it were guiding him, pulling him deeper into this strange world. But why? Why had he been brought here? And what was this place?

Before he could process any more, a sudden roar pierced the air—a deep, guttural sound that sent a shiver down his spine. Something was coming. Something large, and fast.

Kian spun around, his heart pounding in his chest. Through the trees, shadows moved quickly, gliding like dark specters in the night. He could hear the sound of heavy breathing, of something hunting, searching.

His feet moved on their own, his instincts kicking in as he turned and ran. The world around him blurred as he sprinted through the strange forest, branches snapping and the ground beneath him shifting with every step. Behind him, the roars grew louder, closer.

What is chasing me?

Kian's thoughts were scattered, but the answer came too late. From the shadows, a massive shape leaped at him, its claws reaching out .