Long ago, beyond the silver mountains and the whispering seas, there existed a hidden land called Aeloria. It was a place where stars fell like fireflies and rivers sang to the moon. The heart of Aeloria was protected by seven enchanted lanterns, each glowing with ancient magic. As long as they burned, the land would never fade.
But one by one, the lanterns went dark.
Only one remained.
That lantern rested in a forgotten village, hanging outside the small home of a quiet girl named Ira. She didn't know why the lantern glowed brighter whenever she felt brave—or dimmer when she felt afraid. To her, it was just an old light passed down through generations.
One night, the sky cracked with thunder, and a shadow spread across the land. From the darkness emerged the Veil King, a ruler of lost worlds who fed on fading magic. He had come for the last lantern.
As the wind howled, the lantern spoke.
"Ira," it whispered, "you are the Keeper now."
Before she could scream, the lantern burst into a soft golden flame and melted into her chest. Warmth flooded her heart, and suddenly she could hear the land itself—trees crying, mountains breathing, stars calling her name.
With fear trembling in her steps but courage growing in her soul, Ira began her journey across Aeloria. She crossed mirror deserts, outwitted stone giants, and rode on the backs of cloud-whales drifting through the sky. With every act of kindness and bravery, the dark lanterns reignited behind her, one by one.
At last, she faced the Veil King at the edge of nothingness.
"You are only a child," he mocked.
Ira lifted her glowing hands and smiled.
"Maybe," she said, "but I carry a whole world inside me."
The light exploded—not in destruction, but in hope. The Veil King vanished like smoke at sunrise, and Aeloria shone brighter than ever before.
The lanterns returned to the sky as stars.
And Ira?
She went back to her village, just a girl again—except now, whenever the night feels too dark, the stars glow a little brighter… remembering their Keeper.