A strange warmth surrounded Lily, so unlike the cold that had consumed her before. For a moment, she felt weightless, floating in a vast, endless abyss. Then, a rush of air filled her lungs, and her eyes snapped open.
She gasped, sitting up with a jolt. Her hands pressed against soft grass, damp with morning dew. Sunlight filtered through towering trees, their leaves shimmering in unnatural hues—some gold, some deep violet, others glowing faintly as if touched by stardust. The air smelled different, fresh yet laced with something electric.
Where am I?
The last thing she remembered was Sarah's betrayal. The pain. The darkness swallowing her whole. But now, she was here. Alive. Whole.
Lily looked down at herself, expecting blood, wounds—some sign of her murder. But instead, she wore a flowing black dress adorned with silver embroidery, the fabric lighter than anything she had ever worn. Her hands trembled as she reached for her face, her skin smooth and unscarred. A lock of her hair fell over her shoulder—longer, shinier, and now a deep shade of silver.
This wasn't her body. At least, not the one she had before.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, her legs surprisingly steady. As she turned, her breath caught. The world around her was unlike anything she had ever seen. Towering crystal-like mountains gleamed in the distance, and a massive river ran through the valley, its waters glowing an ethereal blue. Birds with iridescent feathers soared overhead, their songs unfamiliar yet strangely soothing.
"This... this isn't Earth," she whispered.
Then, a voice echoed in her mind, soft but powerful.
"Welcome, Witch of the Forgotten Moon."
Lily spun around, but there was no one there. Her heart pounded. Had she imagined it?
"You have been reborn. A new fate awaits you."
"Who—who are you?" she asked aloud, her voice shaking.
Silence. The presence faded as if it had never been there. But one thing was clear—this wasn't a dream. She had been reincarnated into an entirely different world.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. If this was real, then what did it mean? She had power now? Magic?
As if answering her thoughts, a soft glow pulsed around her hands. Lily gasped as wisps of silver energy curled around her fingers, swirling like mist. It felt natural, as if it had always been part of her. When she focused, the magic obeyed, shifting, changing—growing stronger.
A memory of Sarah's dark power flashed in her mind, and a chill ran down her spine. If Sarah had also been reincarnated, then she could be here too.
And if that was true, Lily wasn't safe.
Determination burned in her chest. She didn't know why she had been given a second chance, but she would find out. She would grow stronger, master this power, and when the time came—
She would make Sarah pay.
With renewed purpose, Lily took her first step forward into the unknown, ready to embrace the magic that now flowed within her.