Elysia had always felt out of place in the small village of Greendale. Nestled in the valley of mist-covered mountains, the village seemed to be a world away from the bustling cities she had once heard stories about, where magic was still alive and dragons roamed the skies. But here, in this forgotten corner of the world, magic was nothing more than a distant memory—something old folk spoke of around fires, their voices filled with nostalgia and loss.
Elysia had been raised by her aunt, a woman with no known family, who had found the baby Elysia on the doorstep one stormy night, wrapped in a cloak of deep blue feathers. The only clue to the child's origins was the delicate, golden pendant around her neck—a crescent moon intertwined with a star, an emblem that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. Her aunt never spoke of it, nor did she question the strange feeling that followed Elysia wherever she went. But every year, as the days grew longer and the shadows of the mountains crept closer, something inside her stirred—an odd sense of longing, as if she were meant for something far beyond the simple life of a farmer's daughter.
It was on one such evening, while wandering near the edge of the forest, that she heard it. A song. Soft and haunting, carried on the wind like a whispered memory, it drifted through the trees, pulling her toward the heart of the forest. Elysia's heart quickened as she followed the melody, each note wrapping around her like a lover's embrace. She had never heard a tune like it before—so ancient, yet oddly familiar.
The forest was thick with mist, the air cool and damp, but the music was clearer now. Elysia pushed through the dense undergrowth, her breath shallow as the melody grew louder. It seemed to call her name.
"Elysia…" The voice was barely audible, but it rang in her ears as if it were a command. She quickened her pace, ignoring the sharp branches that scratched at her skin. She had to find the source of the song. It was as if the very earth beneath her feet urged her onward, as if she had no choice but to follow.
And then, through the trees, she saw it.
A clearing bathed in pale, silvery light. At the center of the clearing stood a large stone, its surface covered in intricate runes that seemed to pulse with energy. The song was coming from the stone itself, as if it were alive, vibrating with ancient power.
Elysia stepped forward, her hand reaching out toward the stone. The moment her fingers brushed the cold surface, the song ceased, and a silence fell over the clearing.
A voice, ancient and gentle, echoed through her mind. *"The wings of the forgotten are waiting. The blood of the lost is yours to claim."*
Elysia stumbled back, her heart racing. She had no idea what the voice meant, but she felt something stir deep within her chest. It was a feeling she had never experienced before—an undeniable pull, like a forgotten memory unlocking itself inside her soul.
Before she could process what had just happened, a shadow moved in the corner of her vision. A figure, tall and cloaked in shadows, stepped into the clearing. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his eyes—two bright, burning orbs—met hers with an intensity that made her blood run cold.
"You are not supposed to be here," the figure said, his voice low and commanding. "The realms are no longer yours to walk freely."
Elysia's pulse quickened. "Who are you?"
The man stepped closer, the ground beneath his feet seeming to twist with every step. "I am a protector of the realms," he said cryptically. "And you, child, have awakened something that was meant to remain buried."
Before Elysia could respond, a brilliant flash of light erupted from the stone, and the figure vanished, leaving only the echo of his words lingering in the air.
Elysia stood frozen, the weight of the encounter settling on her like a heavy cloak. The song had stopped, but something in the air had changed. The world around her seemed… different. As if the veil between worlds had thinned, and she had glimpsed something beyond the veil. Something forgotten.
With one last look at the stone, she turned and fled the clearing, the haunting melody of the forgotten realm still echoing in her ears.
Her journey had just begun.