Aurora advanced along the snow-covered trail, the flakes falling in graceful spirals, reflecting the pale glow of the moon. The muffled sound of their footsteps echoed faintly as the surrounding forest whispered inaudible secrets. His thoughts were stuck with the image of Isolde's funeral, the explosion of blue light and the voice that had echoed in his mind, more alive and present than reality itself.
When a bridge appeared before her, the structure looked like something out of a dark story. Made of worn wooden planks and frayed rope, it stretched across a partially frozen river. The water below glowed in shades of blue and silver, with blocks of ice slowly moving in a silent dance. Each board creaked even without Aurora's weight, and the surrounding fog gave the place an ethereal aura.
As she approached, a distinct sound broke the silence: a rustling beneath the bridge, like the snapping of branches being moved. Aurora stopped, her fingers instinctively closing around her cloak. Suddenly, a small creature emerged from the shadows, with fluid, almost dancing movements.
It was a curious figure, smaller than Aurora's knee height, with skin that resembled the bark of an ancient tree, cracked and covered in moss. His eyes shone like vivid emeralds, and he held a twisted staff, with small crystals attached to the ends.
''Who dares approach Old Twig's bridge?'' — asked the creature, its deep, resonant voice a striking contrast to its diminutive appearance.
Aurora raised an eyebrow, her gaze assessing the creature. She stood her ground, but couldn't help but notice the peculiar aura emanating from him, a mixture of wisdom and mischief.
''My name is Aurora'' she said, her voice cutting through the silence. ''I need to cross this bridge. My path takes me beyond it''.
Old Twig cocked his head to the side, his bright eyes scanning Aurora with disconcerting intensity.
''Many have tried to cross this bridge, but few have done so. There is a price, young sorceress.
Aurora sighed, adjusting the weight of her cloak around her shoulders.
''And what would be the price? I don't have time for games, little guardian.''
The being gave a short laugh, a sound that echoed like the snapping of branches in the wind.
''I do not desire gold or treasures, hasty girl. Just a story. Something I've never heard before. A truth worth my time.''
Aurora hesitated. The cold bit her skin, and she felt the urgency to move forward. But something in the creature's expression said he wouldn't let it go without its reward. She took a deep breath, allowing the freezing air to clear her thoughts, and then knelt down, getting closer to him.
''Very wel. I'll tell you about Isolde'' her began, his voice carrying the weight of memory. ''About her death, the map she left me and the warning that echoed when her runes faded.''
She told every detail: the funeral shrouded in silence, the explosion of blue light, Isolde's enigmatic words that still reverberated in her mind. Old Twig listened intently, his eyes shining brighter as she spoke, absorbing each word as if they were the last drops of precious wine.
When she finished, he nodded slowly, as if savoring the story.
''Isolde... — he murmured, his eyes fixed on something that Aurora couldn't see. ''An old name, loaded with weight and mystery. You carry more than a map, girl. You carry a destiny that cannot be diverted.''
''Can I cross now?'' Aurora asked, her patience starting to run out.
Old Twig smiled, taking a step back and pointing towards the bridge.
''You can pass, Aurora. But remember: danger is rarely ahead. He lives in what we carry with us. The price you pay today will not be your last.''
Aurora stood up and adjusted her cloak, giving the creature a final look.
''Thanks for the warning.'' His voice had a tone of caution, but also of determination.
With firm steps, she crossed the bridge. The boards creaked under her weight, but she stayed focused on the other side. When he reached the opposite bank, he turned to look back. Old Twig was no longer there. Only the bridge remained, shrouded in fog and silence.
The wind blew hard, making the branches of the trees above sway as if the forest whispered secrets she wasn't yet ready to understand. The sound of the river rushing beneath was now a distant memory, as Aurora moved forward, the map burning like a flame in her mind.