Lia's breath caught in her throat as the world around her twisted and reformed, like a canvas being splattered with paint. The sensation was dizzying, disorienting, as if the very fabric of reality was being peeled back. Her feet no longer touched solid ground, and the world she knew had become a blur of light and shadow. She closed her eyes, clinging to the strange, calm presence of the figure beside her. She was falling—falling through time and space itself.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the feeling ceased. Lia opened her eyes, and her surroundings came into sharp focus.
She was no longer standing at the edge of the forest. In fact, there was no forest at all. The ground beneath her was soft and uneven, like she was standing on a field of silver dust that shimmered underfoot. The sky above was unlike anything she had ever seen, a swirling blend of deep purples, vibrant blues, and flashes of stars so close she could almost reach out and touch them. The moon from her world had vanished, replaced by two glowing orbs—one golden, the other a deep crimson—hanging in the sky like twin suns.
Lia's heart raced as she took in the landscape. There were no familiar trees, no hills or rivers. Instead, the land stretched out in strange, geometric patterns, with crystalline structures jutting up from the ground in all directions. Some towers sparkled as though made from starlight itself, while others appeared dark and jagged, casting long shadows across the surreal terrain. The air here felt different—thicker, heavier, but still crisp. It carried a faint, sweet scent, like something ancient and otherworldly, yet it also held an electric charge, as if every breath was alive with potential.
A low hum vibrated through the ground, and Lia realized that the sound wasn't coming from the air—it was coming from the very core of this place. The energy here was palpable, like it was alive, a pulse she could feel deep in her chest. She didn't know where she was, but she knew with absolute certainty that this was not Earth.
The figure was still by her side, his presence as overwhelming as ever. He had not moved since they crossed into this new realm. His eyes were now fixed on her, though there was no hint of judgment or expectation in them, only a quiet intensity. His gaze softened just slightly as Lia took her first hesitant step forward.
"This is... another world," Lia whispered, the words tasting strange on her tongue, as though they didn't belong here.
The figure nodded, his expression unreadable. "You are no longer in your world, Lia. You've crossed into the realm beyond the veil. The Astral Realm."
Lia looked around, still trying to grasp the enormity of what she had just done. Her mind raced, questions colliding in her thoughts. "How—why? What is this place?"
The figure's lips parted in a faint smile, but it was not a comforting smile—it was one that held secrets, something she was not yet ready to understand. "This is a place between places, a dimension where the laws of your world do not apply. The veil that separates your realm from this one is thin, and only those chosen—or cursed—can cross it."
Lia swallowed hard. She had always wondered if she was chosen for something, if there was some greater purpose waiting for her, but this? This was far beyond anything she could have imagined. She opened her mouth to ask more, but the words caught in her throat as something caught her attention.
In the distance, a figure emerged from the shadows of a crystalline structure, walking toward them with a slow, deliberate pace. This figure was different from the man who had guided her across the veil. She couldn't see his face clearly, but the silhouette was unmistakable—tall, regal, with an aura of power that seemed to shift around him like a cloak.
The figure beside Lia straightened, his posture rigid. He stepped in front of her, subtly positioning himself between her and the approaching stranger, as if to shield her from whatever threat this new figure might pose.
The newcomer stopped just a few feet away, his eyes locking onto Lia's with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. His gaze was like a fire, burning through her with a heat that made her skin prickle. He was beautiful, in a way that made her feel both drawn to him and wary of him, his features sharp, his skin a shade of pale silver. His hair flowed like liquid mercury, catching the starlight as he moved.
"Welcome," he said, his voice smooth, velvety, but with a cold edge. "It's not often we have new arrivals. You must be the one they spoke of."
Lia opened her mouth, but the figure beside her spoke first, his tone low and warning. "You know nothing of her."
The silver-haired man's lips curled into a smile, though there was no warmth in it. "Ah, but I know more than you think, old friend. This one is destined for much, though she may not yet understand it. The question is... is she prepared for what lies ahead?"
The tension between the two men crackled in the air, and Lia felt her stomach tighten. She couldn't tell if they were allies or enemies, but something told her that she was caught in the middle of something far larger than herself.
The silver-haired man's gaze flickered back to Lia, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The Astral Veil has brought her to us for a reason. The question is—will she embrace her destiny, or will she flee back to the safety of her old life?"
Lia's heart raced as her mind struggled to comprehend the gravity of the words. Destiny. The word echoed in her head, familiar yet strange. Was that why she had crossed the veil? To fulfill some unknown purpose?
Before she could respond, the figure beside her stepped forward, a quiet warning in his eyes. "She will choose her own path, just as you did."
The silver-haired man's smile widened. "Very well. The path is hers to walk. But remember, Lia—every choice in this world is a step toward a future that is both a gift and a curse. And in the Astral Realm, the stars are never as they seem."
With that, he turned and walked away, his figure fading into the distant shimmer of the crystalline structures, leaving Lia with more questions than answers.
The figure beside her remained silent, but his presence was a constant comfort, grounding her in the uncertainty of this strange new world. She turned to him, her mind reeling with everything that had happened.
"Who was he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"A gatekeeper," he replied simply, his gaze scanning the horizon. "One of many who serve the Astral Realm. You will meet others soon enough."
Lia nodded, but inside, she felt a deep unease. There was so much she didn't understand. So much that had yet to be revealed. But one thing was clear: whatever lay ahead, she was no longer just an ordinary girl from Earth. She was part of something far greater, something that stretched across the stars.
And whether she was ready or not, her journey had only just begun.