Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her breath hitching as she took in the vibrant sky above her. It shimmered with hues of gold and violet, streaked with floating orbs of light that danced like fireflies.

The air felt thick, buzzing faintly as though alive. She sat up slowly, the soft ground beneath her unfamiliar. It wasn't grass—it was a luminous, silver moss that pulsed gently beneath her touch.

Where am I? she thought, her heart racing. She tried to recall what had happened, but her memory was a foggy maze. The last thing she remembered was lying in bed, the rhythmic patter of rain against her window lulling her to sleep.

Now, the sky above her was filled with twin suns, their warm light casting strange, elongated shadows.

Valerie stood, brushing off the shimmering dust that clung to her clothes. Her surroundings were surreal—a vast expanse of rolling hills dotted with crystalline trees that glowed faintly from within.

The air smelled sweet, like a blend of honey and wildflowers, but there was an underlying metallic tang that set her on edge.

In the distance, she saw movement. Figures—humanoid but not quite human—were walking along a raised path made of floating stone slabs.

They were taller than any human she'd seen, their skin ranging in shades of blue, green, and even lavender. Their eyes glowed faintly, and their clothing was made of flowing, pearly material that shifted colors as they moved.

Valerie hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to hide, but curiousity got the better of her. She stepped closer to the path, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she neared, one of the figures turned to her, its glowing eyes locking onto hers. It tilted its head, as though studying her, and then spoke in a melodic, unfamiliar language that made the air hum.

"I… I don't understand," Valerie stammered, her voice trembling. She felt painfully out of place in her pyjamas, surrounded by these ethereal beings in their alien world.

The figure gestured toward her, its movements slow and deliberate. Another figure joined the first, this one smaller, with deep indigo skin and hair that seemed to ripple like liquid silver.

It extended a hand toward Valerie, and though she hesitated, something about its calm demeanor urged her to trust it.

She took a tentative step forward, then another, until their fingers brushed. The moment they touched, a surge of warmth flooded through Valerie, and suddenly, she could hear their words—not with her ears, but in her mind.

"You are a human," the smaller figure said, its voice echoing softly in her thoughts.

"This is… unusual."

"Human?" Valerie repeated, her voice rising in panic.

"What does that even mean? Who are you? Where am I?"

The taller figure leaned slightly forward.

"You are not of Aeloria," it said, its voice deeper but equally melodic.

"You do not belong here."

"I don't even know what Aeloria is!" Valerie snapped, fear giving way to frustration.

"I just woke up here. I don't know how I got here, and I have no idea how to get back. I was in my bed, and then—"

She gestured around wildly, her words tumbling over one another.

"Now I'm… here, wherever here is!"

The two figures exchanged glances. The smaller one tilted its head thoughtfully.

"The Veil must have thinned," it murmured.

"But why would it bring a human through?"

"What's the Veil?" Valerie asked, her voice shaking.

"Fine...ok, I don't care what it is—just send me back home!"

The taller figure frowned.

"It is not so simple. The Veil is the boundary between realms. If you are here, human, it was not by accident. The Veil does not make mistakes."

Valerie stared at them in disbelief.

"Are you saying I'm supposed to be here? That's ridiculous! I'm not some chosen one from a fantasy novel. I'm just… me!"

The smaller figure's glowing eyes softened.

"You may not believe it now, but if the Veil brought you, it is for a purpose. You are not here by chance."

Before Valerie could respond, a distant roar shook the ground beneath her feet. The crystalline trees swayed, their branches chiming like wind chimes. The two figures stiffened, their glowing eyes narrowing as they turned toward the horizon.

"The Rift is stirring," the taller one said gravely.

"We must leave. It is not safe here."

"What's the Rift?" Valerie asked, panic creeping into her voice.

"What's happening?"

The smaller figure grabbed her hand, its grip firm but not unkind.

"The Rift is a wound in the Veil, where chaos spills into our world. It is dangerous for all, but for you—a human—it is deadly."

Valerie's legs felt like jelly, but the urgency in their voices spurred her to move.

"What do you mean deadly for me?"

The taller figure glanced back at her as they began to run down the floating path.

"Because you are not of this world. The chaos of the Rift would consume you first."

"What??!!! No!!!" Valerie cried, struggling to keep up.

"Then stay close to us," the smaller figure said, its tone surprisingly gentle.

"We will explain everything when it is safe. But for now, you must trust us."

With no other choice, Valerie allowed herself to be pulled along the glowing path, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She didn't know where they were going or what dangers lay ahead.