Chapter 1: The Girl with Visions

The stars over Omala burned bright that night, casting silver light upon the quiet village of Elden Hollow. Nestled between rolling hills and dense forests, the village was a place of simple lives and forgotten dreams—except for one girl who saw too much.

Nyssa sat on the thatched roof of her home, gazing at the sky, her fingers clenched around the rough fabric of her cloak. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain. Somewhere in the village square, the sound of a flute played a lively tune, but she could not hear it over the pounding of her heart.

A vision had come to her again.

Not the fleeting kind that danced at the edges of sleep, but one that clawed its way into her waking mind. It had struck her while she was gathering herbs near the river—an image so vivid and terrible that it left her breathless.

A throne, cracked and crumbling.

A kingdom, burning under a blood-red sky.

A shadowed figure, cloaked in darkness, whispering her name.

And above it all, a voice, ancient and relentless, whispering words she could not yet understand.

She swallowed hard, pressing her palm against her forehead as if she could push the vision away. But the truth clung to her like a curse.

Nyssa had always known she was different. From the moment she was old enough to speak, she had seen things before they happened—a broken cartwheel before it snapped, a sickness before it spread, a lie before it was spoken. The villagers called it intuition, a trick of a sharp mind. She let them believe that.

But this… this was different.

This was a future she did not understand.

A creaking noise broke her thoughts.

"Nyssa?"

She turned sharply to see Elden, the old healer who had raised her, standing by the ladder leading to the roof. His wrinkled face was filled with concern, his keen eyes watching her as if he already knew what troubled her.

She forced a smile. "Couldn't sleep."

Elden sighed, climbing up with slow, careful steps. He settled beside her, his joints cracking in protest. "Another vision?"

Nyssa hesitated, then nodded. She had never been able to lie to him.

His expression darkened. "What did you see?"

She told him, her voice barely above a whisper. As she spoke, she watched the worry etch deeper into his face, his hands tightening around the edge of his worn cloak.

When she finished, Elden let out a slow breath. "You must never speak of this, child."

She frowned. "Why? It's just—"

"Not just a vision." His voice was quiet but firm. "You know what happens to those with magic in Omala."

Her stomach twisted. Magic was rare in the kingdom, feared and whispered about in hushed voices. Those suspected of possessing unnatural abilities often vanished—taken by the king's enforcers, never to be seen again.

But she had never feared the king. His rule was just, his people loved him. He had no reason to hunt people like her… right?

Elden placed a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder. "Promise me, Nyssa. You will not speak of this to anyone."

She hesitated, then nodded. "I promise."

He studied her for a long moment, as if searching for something unspoken in her eyes. Finally, he sighed and stood. "Get some rest, child. Tomorrow will bring what it will."

Nyssa stayed on the roof long after he left, her mind restless.

Because in the depths of her vision, beyond the fire and shadows, she had seen something else.

A man.

His face had been blurred, but she had felt him—a presence tied to her soul.

And though she did not know his name, she knew one thing for certain.

Their fates were bound.

And soon, they would meet.

—

End of Chapter 1

How do you like the opening? Let me know before I continue with Chapter 2!