The lake at night was unnaturally quiet. The water's surface resembled a black mirror, reflecting the starry sky, yet it felt lifeless. Eric knelt at the edge of the lake, his forehead lightly touching the cold stone monument, his breathing erratic as if it had been stifled for too long. His hand gripped a bronze key tightly, the rough edges leaving shallow marks on his palm. He was unaware of it, or perhaps he had grown accustomed to this pain.
Five years ago, the day Lilia disappeared, the sky had drizzled with light rain, and the lake's shore was covered with damp wild grass. Eric still remembered her last appearance—she stood by the lake, her skirt blowing in the wind, turned to give him a smile that seemed like a farewell. Then she walked into the water and vanished. He ran toward her, even jumped into the lake, but he grasped nothing. The surface of the water only reflected his own trembling figure. In that moment, Eric knew he had lost her.
The only clue he found was a soaked note, with strange words written on it: "When the stars swallow the lake, the door will open for you." These words had tormented him like a curse for five years, day after day gnawing at his nerves. He repeatedly told himself that it was just a bizarre dream, but some voice inside kept reminding him that tonight would be different.
Now, as the starlight spread across the entire lake, just as she had said, it turned the water into a distorted glow. The lake began to swirl, the sound of the water deep like the breath of some monster. Eric slowly stood up and inserted the key into a groove in the stone monument. He twisted it forcefully, and the bronze key made a sharp "click" sound. With that sound, the earth trembled slightly, and a huge wave rose in the middle of the lake, revealing a door emerging from the water.
The door was made of obsidian, its surface cracked, with dark blue light seeping from the gaps. The light spread like mist, consuming the surrounding starlight and making the air feel thinner. Eric stared at the door, as if afraid it might disappear the next second. His heart raced wildly, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Lilia..." His voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes filled with both stubbornness and sorrow. He knew what lay behind the door might not be the answer he hoped for, but he couldn't turn back. This was his only path.
Eric took a deep breath and placed his hand on the door. It was as cold as ice, almost warning him. But he didn't hesitate and pushed it open. In an instant, a gust of wind swept through, carrying eerie whispers and the scent of brine, pulling him into endless darkness. A familiar, deep voice echoed in his ear, as if coming from a distance: "You've finally arrived."
Then, everything fell silent.