Dawn crept into the sky, painting the world in soft shades of orange and gold. Elysara felt the ache in her legs with every step, her body weary from the night's encounter. Despite her exhaustion, she pushed forward, knowing they couldn't afford to stop yet.
Beside her, Aureth kept her pace steady, her sharp eyes scanning the forest as though every shadow might be hiding a new threat. The tension that had gripped them through the night was beginning to ease, and the faint chirping of birds was a welcome reminder that they weren't entirely alone in this vast wilderness.
"There's a stream up ahead," Aureth said, breaking the silence. "We'll stop there for a bit—rest, drink, and eat something. It's safer to travel during the day. The forest is less active then, and we'll be able to see better. Our attackers are less likely to strike when it's light, so it's the best time to move."
Elysara nodded, grateful for the brief respite. The weight of the journey was already beginning to take its toll, but she understood the necessity of moving while the sun was high. The night had brought far more danger than they had expected, and even though the day had only just begun, the thought of daylight offered her a small sense of relief.
"Alright, we'll head to the stream," Elysara said, her voice steadying. "It'll be good to rest for a moment. I'm starting to feel the fatigue already."
Aureth gave a small smile, though there was worry in her eyes. "Don't worry, child. We have plenty of time. Just pace yourself."
The thought of a stream, fresh water, and a break from the constant tension of their journey was exactly what Elysara needed. She allowed herself a brief moment of relaxation as they moved through the forest, the silence broken only by the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional rustle of the trees above them.
It didn't take long to reach the stream. The water sparkled in the early morning sunlight, winding its way between smooth rocks and lush greenery. The sight of it felt like a balm to Elysara's frayed nerves.
Aureth crouched by the edge, cupping her hands to bring the cool water to her lips. "Drink, child. We need our strength."
Elysara followed suit, kneeling beside the stream and letting the icy water run over her hands before taking a sip. The chill of it was refreshing, and for a moment, the tension in her body eased.
They found a small patch of soft moss near the stream to sit on. Aureth pulled out a bundle of bread and dried fruits from her satchel, handing some to Elysara. As they ate in relative silence, the forest around them seemed almost peaceful, the hum of insects and the rustling of leaves a soothing background melody.
As she chewed on a piece of bread, Elysara's gaze drifted to her satchel, where her mother's diary was tucked away. She hesitated for a moment before pulling it out, the familiar weight of the book grounding her.
Aureth glanced at her, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Curious like your mother," she mumbled with a quiet laugh, her tone carrying a note of fondness.
Elysara smiled faintly, brushing her fingers over the leather cover. "I guess it's hard not to be, knowing what she went through. It feels… important to understand."
Aureth didn't respond immediately. She leaned back against a tree, watching the sunlight dance on the surface of the stream. "Just don't let it distract you too much. We have a long road ahead, and we'll need all our wits about us."
Elysara nodded, then opened the diary to where she had last stopped. Her mother's delicate handwriting filled the page, drawing her in.
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Diary Entry- The Chosen Ones
Well, Mama wasn't as worried as I thought she'd be about my dream. I guess she's used to me being a little… distracted lately. She wasn't surprised at all, actually. When I finally told her about the pull of the tree and how it's been getting stronger, she sat me down, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, "You've been chosen."
Chosen? I didn't know what to think at first. She went on to explain that I might be among the "chosen ones," and that it could be part of my heritage, something deep in our family bloodline. Mama called them "songbearers." She said the songbearers are chosen to help keep the balance, whatever that means. Honestly, it all sounded a bit ridiculous to me, and I laughed it off. I mean, me? A songbearer? I just don't know how I fit into that picture, especially when I've spent most of my days casting spells and mixing potions like everyone else. It's hard to imagine me having some special role, but Mama looked at me so seriously, I started to wonder if there was something more to it.
Then, in the middle of all this confusion, something else happened today that just added to the mess in my mind. I got my first flow. Finally. I'm already 16, and all the girls here start around 11 or 12, so I've been feeling a little behind. But today, it came. And I won't lie—it was kind of a relief. It wasn't what I expected—there was a lot of pain and discomfort, but I think it was the way my body was finally catching up.
Mama seemed pleased when I told her about it, but I wasn't sure how to feel. I guess it's a rite of passage for every woman, but it still felt a little strange considering everything else that's been going on. So much is changing. I can't help but wonder if I'm becoming part of something bigger than I ever imagined.
For now, I'm just going to try and breathe. I've been thinking a lot about the tree, and Mama says I need to take things one step at a time. But I know… deep down, that tree isn't done with me yet. It's calling to me. I can feel it in my bones.
Diary Entry- The First Ritual
Well, today was… intense. I never thought I'd be here, but somehow, I am. Today, I finally participated in my first ritual, and I have to say, it wasn't what I expected at all.
Mama had been preparing me for months, telling me that there would be a moment when the magic inside me would awaken, that the veil between worlds would call to me. And I think today might've been that moment. The ritual was held in a clearing outside the village, where the Veilspire Willow Tree stands.
The Veilspire Willow Tree is unlike anything I've ever seen. Its trunk, thick and ancient, twists like the gnarled hands of the earth, yet it shimmers with a silvery hue, as though the bark holds the faintest traces of moonlight. It stands tall, its presence commanding, yet humbling. The roots stretch deep into the earth, twisting in patterns too intricate to comprehend, as though the tree draws power from a source far beyond this world.
Its branches are delicate and sweeping, like the gown of a dancer, their soft leaves glowing faintly in the light. When the breeze touches them, they seem to whisper—a quiet murmur, an ethereal song that fills the air, almost as if the tree itself is singing. The longer I stand before it, the more I feel the pull, as if the tree can see into me, into my soul, drawing out my deepest thoughts and fears.
I'm not sure how to explain it, but there's something alive about the tree. Not just the way it moves with the wind or how the leaves shimmer, but something deeper, something that speaks of ancient magic and forgotten worlds. It feels as though it has been here far longer than I can imagine, holding secrets that could change everything.
The ritual began with the chant, a melody that seemed to flow naturally from our lips, as if we were channeling something much older than ourselves. As we sang, the branches of the tree seemed to stir, reaching toward us like living arms. One by one, they wrapped around us, lifting us into the air, and I felt a strange, warm sensation spread through me—almost like the tree was drawing something from my very essence. When it released me, I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. My body ached, but I couldn't help but feel a strange connection to the tree, something unspoken but undeniable.
I don't know what it means, but I feel changed. And as I look back at the tree, I realize it isn't just a tree—it's a gateway, a sentinel of sorts. The Veil, the balance of magic in Eldoria, seems to rest in its ancient branches. And I? I've been chosen to protect it.
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Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Elysara," Mama's voice was low, but urgent. "We need to move. Now."
I turned, startled, as I saw her standing a few paces behind me, her brow furrowed in concern. The forest around us had grown eerily still, the wind no longer whispering through the trees.
"Right, Grandmother. I'm coming." I quickly pushed myself up from the ground. There was no time for questions, no time to linger.