The world beyond the veil wasn't just different.It was alive.
Elara landed hard on her knees, breath knocking out of her chest. The ground beneath her wasn't dirt or stone. It was soft. Warm. Glowing moss pressed against her palms, lighting up like stars when she touched it.
"Ow," she muttered, then froze.
The air smelled strange. Like crushed spices and rain before a storm. Not fresh. Old. Ancient. It filled her lungs and made her head spin a little.
She slowly pushed herself up.
Trees rose around her, tall and twisted, their bark shining faint shades of blue and gold. Tiny lights drifted through the air like fireflies, but they moved with purpose, not random. They watched her. She could feel it.
The silence wasn't calm.It was tense.
Like the whole place was holding its breath.
Elara swallowed and looked down at her hand. The silver locket was warm. No—hot. It pulsed against her skin, steady and strong, like a second heart.
"What did I just fall into…" she whispered.
Her voice sounded small here. Like the forest heard it and filed it away.
In the distance, tall crystal-like towers rose above the trees. They caught the light and bent it into soft rainbows that washed over the forest. The ground beneath her boots hummed. Low and steady. Like a drum beating deep underground.
Each step she took sent a strange feeling up her legs. Not pain. Memory.
Her head throbbed.
Sudden images flashed behind her eyes.
A woman standing on a cliff. Wind tearing at her dark hair. Green eyes staring into fire and mist.
My eyes.
Elara gasped and stumbled, grabbing a tree to steady herself.
A voice followed the image. Deep. Gentle. Saying her name.
Elara.
Not the way people said it every day. Not quick or careless.
This voice spoke it like it meant something. Like a promise.
Her chest tightened.
"I don't have time for this," she muttered, trying to shake it off.
That's when the air changed.
The hairs on the back of her neck lifted. Her stomach dropped.
Something was wrong.
A sharp sound tore through the forest. A scream. High and metallic, filled with pain and rage. It sliced through the glowing air and made Elara flinch.
"That's… not good," she whispered.
Branches snapped ahead. Heavy footsteps crushed through the undergrowth, fast and angry.
Run.
The word wasn't a thought. It was instinct.
Elara darted behind the nearest tree, pressing her back to its glowing bark. Her breath came fast and loud. She clamped a hand over her mouth, heart slamming so hard it hurt.
The locket pulsed faster.
Something burst into the clearing.
It was huge.
Black scales covered its body, thick and sharp. Its claws dug into the glowing ground. A wide mouth full of teeth snapped as it sniffed the air. Leathery wings twitched at its sides, half-open and ready.
Its eyes burned red.
Elara's blood turned cold.
Then something else flashed through the trees.
A second creature—smaller, faster. Its fur shimmered silver, glowing faintly as it ran. It moved like light itself, clutching a bright blue orb tight to its chest.
The big creature roared and chased it.
The silver one stumbled.
Elara's heart jumped into her throat.
"No," she breathed.
Before she could stop herself—before fear could win—she screamed.
The sound ripped out of her, raw and human.
The forest went still.
The black creature stopped and turned.
Red eyes locked on her.
"Oh. That was stupid," Elara whispered.
It snarled and started toward her, slow and hungry.
She backed away, legs shaking.
Then the air behind her shifted.
"Elara. Run."
Her breath caught.
She turned.
Kaelen stood there, shadows curling around him like smoke. His dark coat moved even though there was no wind. His eyes were locked on the beast, sharp and furious.
She didn't move.
"Now," he snapped.
Her legs finally listened. She ran.
Branches tore at her arms as she bolted through the glowing trees. Behind her, the forest exploded with sound.
A roar.A crash.Power slamming into power.
She skidded to a stop behind a thick cluster of roots and turned, chest heaving.
Kaelen stepped into the clearing.
The beast lunged.
Kaelen moved like he wasn't bound by time. He dodged the claws by inches, shadows wrapping around his body. He struck hard, his fist slamming into the creature's side. The impact sent it flying.
It screeched and came back swinging.
Kaelen caught its claw with one hand. Twisted. Slammed it into the ground.
The earth shook.
Elara stared, frozen.
He didn't look angry. He looked focused. Ancient. Every move was clean, sharp, deadly.
"You don't belong here," Kaelen said coldly, ducking another strike.
Neither do I, Elara thought, clutching the locket.
The creature reared back, wings beating wildly. Kaelen didn't step away. He stepped closer.
His eyes flicked to Elara for half a second.
In that look, she felt it.
A promise.
I won't let it touch you.
The beast charged.
Kaelen placed his palm on its chest.
Light exploded.
Silver light, bright and burning, poured from his hand. The creature screamed, smoke rising from its scales. It staggered, then turned and fled, crashing into the trees until the sound faded.
The forest fell silent again.
Elara's knees nearly gave out.
Kaelen turned to her, breathing hard.
"You screamed," he said.
"I panicked," she replied, stepping forward. "I don't usually deal with… whatever that was."
His mouth twitched. Almost a smile. "It distracted it."
She looked at the locket. It glowed brighter now. "Where are we?"
"A pocket realm," he said. "Between worlds."
She frowned. "I didn't mean to come here."
"I know." His gaze darkened. "You shouldn't have been able to."
Her throat went dry. "But I did."
"Yes." His eyes dropped to the locket. "Because that's a key."
"It feels like it knows me," she whispered.
"It does." He stepped closer. "It remembers your blood."
Her chest tightened. "So… what am I?"
Kaelen met her eyes. "Someone powerful. And very important."
"Dangerous?" she asked.
"To everyone else," he said quietly. "Not to me."
The air between them felt thick. Heavy. She felt drawn to him, like gravity pulling her in.
"You woke something," he said softly. "In this realm. And in me."
Her breath caught.
Before she could speak, a soft sound came from the trees.
The silver-furred creature stood there, holding the blue orb. Its eyes were wide and ancient.
"Child of Echo and Flame," it said. "You have returned."
Elara blinked. "Returned from where?"
But it was already gone.
Kaelen stiffened. "We need to leave."
"How?" she asked. "There's no door."
He took her hand.
"I'll make one."
Light cracked around them.
As the world broke apart, unseen eyes watched from the dark.
"She's returned," a voice whispered.
And the mist closed in.