Lila had always found solace in the quiet corners of the university library. A small space tucked away on the third floor, where rows of old books lined the shelves, untouched by time. It was a place where the hustle and bustle of campus life could be forgotten. Here, she could lose herself in the world of pages, away from the demands of exams, assignments, and the pressures of being a student.
On this particular afternoon, the library seemed even quieter than usual. The usual chatter from the study groups on the lower floors was absent. Even the hum of the fluorescent lights above her seemed distant, like a whisper from another world. It was perfect.
Lila ran her fingers across the spines of books as she walked through the aisles, hoping to stumble upon something that would catch her interest. Her eyes skimmed over familiar titles, novels and histories she had read time and time again. She wasn't looking for anything in particular—just something to pass the time between classes.
She was about to turn down another aisle when a dark cover caught her attention. It was tucked between two larger volumes, almost as if it was trying to hide itself from view. The gold lettering embossed on its spine glimmered in the dim light, like a forgotten treasure just waiting to be discovered.
Curious, Lila pulled the book from the shelf, its leather cover smooth under her fingertips. She turned it over in her hands. The title was written in a language she didn't recognize, its sharp characters curling and twisting in an elegant pattern. She squinted at it, trying to make sense of it, but nothing seemed familiar.
"Must be some old language," she muttered to herself, though it didn't quite explain the strange pull she felt toward the book. It was as if it called to her, an almost magnetic force that tugged at her insides.
She hesitated. It wasn't her usual type of read—Lila preferred novels, classics, or the occasional historical biography—but there was something about this book that felt different. Something important.
With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, she opened the cover.
At first, nothing happened. The pages were yellowed with age, and the ink was faded in places. The writing was still in that unfamiliar language, but for some reason, it didn't seem so strange now. The words seemed to dance on the page, almost alive. She couldn't understand a single one, yet the moment her eyes landed on them, she felt… something. A pulse, deep within her chest.
Her heart quickened.
Suddenly, the room seemed to tilt. The ground beneath her feet felt less solid. She blinked hard, trying to focus on the words, but they began to blur together. The walls of the library seemed to warp and stretch, and the familiar scent of old paper and wood disappeared, replaced by something fresh and earthy.
Before she could react, everything went black.
When Lila opened her eyes again, the world was not the same.
The air was different here—cooler, crisper. The distant sound of wind whispered through the trees. Her senses were overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings. She was no longer in the library. The scent of ink and leather had been replaced by the earthy aroma of damp moss and wildflowers. The ground beneath her feet felt soft, like grass, but when she looked down, she saw not grass, but lush green foliage that stretched out for miles.
Confused, she stood up, her head spinning as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. She took in her surroundings: towering trees with strange, glowing fruit hanging from their branches, their leaves shimmering in the soft light of a golden sunset. Ahead of her stood a broad river, its waters sparkling under the fading sunlight, winding its way through the vast landscape.
It was beautiful—but impossible. She stumbled back a step, looking around in panic.
"What the hell...?"
"Welcome, Princess Lila."
The voice echoed in her mind, clear and commanding. Lila froze, her body rigid. She spun around to find no one behind her. Her breath came in quick bursts, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to process the words.
"Princess Lila?" she whispered to herself. The title sounded foreign, as though it had no place in her life. She was just a regular college student. There was nothing royal about her—nothing even close to royalty.
A figure appeared from the trees. He moved with purpose, his footsteps soft on the ground but resolute. He was tall, dressed in dark clothing that shimmered faintly with a golden thread. His face was sharp, handsome, with dark eyes that seemed to hold centuries of knowledge. His hair was dark and shoulder-length, framing his face with an air of mystery.
The man stopped in front of her, his gaze steady as he studied her. His eyes flickered with something—a recognition, maybe. Something deeper than just seeing her for the first time.
"You've finally arrived," he said, his voice low and measured, yet tinged with something she couldn't place—relief, perhaps. "We've been waiting for you."
Lila's mind was reeling. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. Her body felt heavy, her thoughts a jumbled mess. How was she supposed to respond to this?
"Where am I?" she finally managed to ask, her voice shaking slightly. "What is this place?"
The man smiled faintly, though there was an edge to it. "This is Veridorn," he said, each syllable rolling off his tongue with an undeniable gravity. "Your kingdom."
Lila's mouth went dry. Kingdom? Her kingdom?
"I'm not—" She stopped herself. How could she explain this? How could she explain that she was just a girl from a small college in the middle of nowhere? There was no way she was the princess of anything.
The man's eyes softened as if he could read her confusion and doubt. "I understand this is overwhelming. But you are the heir to Veridorn. And your time to claim your birthright has come."
He took a step closer, and she instinctively stepped back. Her eyes darted around her, looking for any sign of an escape, but there was nothing but the vast landscape stretching endlessly before her. The river, the forest, the sky—all unfamiliar.
"You're not dreaming," the man said, almost as though he could hear her thoughts. "And this isn't some trick. You are here because you have a destiny to fulfill."
Lila shook her head, her chest tightening. "I don't… I don't understand. I'm not from here. I'm not a princess."
"Not yet," he replied, his voice low but full of conviction. "But you will be. Veridorn has been waiting for you. For centuries."
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog, pressing down on her chest. Lila's mind was in a whirlwind of confusion. She had to be dreaming, she had to be. This couldn't be real.
A sudden pressure in her chest pulled her attention back to the man in front of her. His expression had shifted—more serious now, less compassionate. "The longer you deny it, the more danger you bring to both our worlds."
Lila looked up at him, her throat tight. "Both… worlds?"
He nodded gravely. "Yes. Yours and ours. There are forces at work here that you cannot yet comprehend. And they will stop at nothing to keep you from claiming your throne."
Before she could respond, the world around her began to shift once more. The trees faded, and the golden sunset dissolved into a blur of colors, pulling her from the strange landscape back into the library.
The book was still in her hands.
But everything had changed.
Lila blinked, staring at the pages of the book in her lap, her heart pounding in her chest. She was back in the library, surrounded by the familiar scent of old books and the hum of quiet activity around her. The bustling sounds of the campus filtered through the window, and the reality of her situation came crashing down.
She gasped, struggling to catch her breath.
What had just happened? Had it been real? She wasn't sure.
But one thing was clear: Her life was no longer as ordinary as it had been. Something had changed. The book, the vision—everything felt so real, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the man's words were meant for her.
Princess Lila. The heir to Veridorn.
What did it all mean?
For the first time in her life, Lila felt like her destiny was calling. But the question was: Would she answer?