In a world not so different from our own, there was a place of enchantment, magic, and ancient secrets--- a world known only to those who dared to believe in the impossible. The story of this world had been forgotten by most, fading into the whispers of legend. But for Caelia Lysander, everything was about to change.
It all began on an ordinary day.
Caelia had come to her parent's house for a short vacation. Her family had gone to a function, but feeling unwell, Caelia decided to stay behind and rest. The house, though comforting in its familiarity, felt strangely quiet without her family's presence. She had always found comfort in the quiet, but today, something was different an unease lingered in the air, a feeling she couldn't shake.
Her heart skipped a beat.
A theif. Someone had broken into the house
In a rush of panic, Caelia's footsteps stumbled. She couldn't think. She couldn't act. In the panic of her thoughts, she stumbled upon the one place that seemed to offer her the safety she desperately needed. The wardrobe.
But this was no ordinary wardrobe. It stood in the corner of the room, its wood aged and dark, its design detailed but worn from years of neglect. This wardrobe had always seemed out of place, ancient even, as if it had been there long before her familly moved in. She had always avoided it never really understanding why. Now it was her only sanctuary.
With trembling hands, Caelia pulled open the wardrobe doors and stepped inside. As she squeezed into the cramped space, the noise of the thief grew louder, but she remained still, hoping to avoid detection. Just as she thought the coast was clear, a strange sensation washed over her, as if the air itself had shifted.
The wardrobe groaned benath her weight, and for a moment everything felt unnaturally still. She held her breath, counting the seconds.
The house was silent again.
Her fear subsided slightly, replaced by curiosity. Had the thief left? Slowly, she reached for the door of the wardrobe and pushed it open.
She stepped out, expecting to see the familiar bedroom she had hidden in, but something was... off.
The furniture was still there, but it looked older somehow-worn, as though it had been abandoned for years. Dust coated the surfaces in thick layers, and rustic bedding stretched between the corners of the room. The air smelled of earth and damp wood, not the faint lavender scent her mother always used.
"What... happened here?" She whispered, her voice trembling.
Caelia cautiously walked to the window, her heart pounding. She pulled back the heavy curtains, only to find herself staring at an entirely unfamiliar view. The backyard she had known since childhood was gone. In its place stood an expanse of dense trees, their leaves shimmering in shades of emerald and gold under a strange purple-tinged sky.
A chill ran down her spine.This wasn't her house.
"No, no, no," she muttered, stepping back from the window. She turned around, her eyes shifting across the room. The familiar layout was still there, but the changes were undeniable. It was as if her home had been transported to some ancient forest-or worse, replaced entirely.
Her breathing quickened as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She glanced back at the wardrobe, its door now shut tightly behind her. Had it done this? Had she somehow been... transported?
The thought was absurd, but so was everything she was seeing.
Caelia walked to the door and hesitated for a moment before opening it. The hallway beyond was equally unrecognizable. Wooden beams lined the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with faded embroideries portraying scenes of battles and strange creatures.
Fear rose inside her, but curiosity restrained it. Where was she? What had happened to her home?
The sound of rustling leaves drew her attention to a nearby window. She approached it cautiously and glanced out, her breath catching at the sight of the vast forest beyond. The trees seemed alive, their branches swaying in a rhythm that didn't match the wind.
This was no place she had ever seen before.
Caelia turned back to the wardrobe, her mind racing. Had she gone mad? Was this a dream? Or had the wardrobe truly transported her to another world?
She needed answers.