Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The First Flame
The following morning, the world outside seemed unchanged, but Elysia felt like she was standing on the edge of something vast and unknown. The sun had risen over the mountains, casting long, golden beams through the trees that surrounded her aunt's cottage. Yet, despite the peaceful beauty of the morning, her mind was turbulent, caught in a storm of confusion and disbelief.
Her aunt's words echoed in her mind. The Forgotten Realm. Vaeloria. A royal bloodline that had been hidden for centuries. And the pendant—the key to everything. Elysia had always known there was something different about her, something that made her feel as though she didn't truly belong in Greendale. But to learn that she was destined for something greater, something so far beyond her simple life, was more than she could grasp.
After a quiet breakfast with Aunt Mira, who had remained unusually silent, Elysia gathered the courage to speak. "Aunt Mira, I… I need to leave, don't I?"
Mira met her gaze, her eyes filled with both sorrow and understanding. "Yes, you do. There is no more time for hiding."
"Where do I go?" Elysia asked. The map her aunt had given her felt heavy in her hands, the lines of it ancient and worn, as if it had been passed down through generations.
"You will need to head east, toward the Wraith Mountains," Mira said. "There, you will find the entrance to the Forgotten Realm. But remember, you must not trust everyone you meet. There are forces at play that want to stop you."
Elysia nodded, though a wave of doubt washed over her. Could she really be the one to restore the fallen kingdom? Was she capable of wielding the power of the royal bloodline? It felt like a heavy burden to bear, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
"Take this," Mira added, handing her a small leather pouch. "It contains a crystal of protection. It will guide you when you're lost, and shield you from dark magic when you need it most."
Elysia took the pouch, its weight comforting in her palm. "Thank you, Aunt Mira. I don't know if I can do this without you."
"You don't have to do it alone," Mira said softly, her eyes lingering on Elysia for a moment longer. "You have a strength within you that you've yet to realize. Trust in it."
With those final words, Elysia stepped out of the cottage, the cool morning air filling her lungs. She glanced back one last time, her heart heavy, then turned and walked toward the road leading out of Greendale. It was time.
The journey was long and arduous. Elysia traveled through dense forests, crossed rocky rivers, and scaled steep hills, always keeping the map close at hand. The world around her seemed so vast, so wild, and yet she felt drawn to it as if it was calling her to something she couldn't quite understand. Each night, as she made camp beneath the stars, the pendant at her neck would glow faintly, as though urging her onward.
Two weeks into her journey, she reached the base of the Wraith Mountains. The air grew colder as the towering peaks loomed above her, their jagged tops shrouded in swirling mist. According to the map, the entrance to the Forgotten Realm was hidden deep within these mountains, concealed from the eyes of mortal men. She would need to find a way to scale the cliffs and navigate the treacherous passes.
But it wasn't the mountains that caught her attention on that particular evening. As she set up camp beneath the towering pines, she noticed something unusual in the distance—a flickering light. It was faint, but steady, like the glow of a fire. Her curiosity piqued, she followed the light through the darkening forest, her feet quickening as the glow grew brighter.
When she reached the source, she found a campfire surrounded by stones, with a figure sitting near it. The person was cloaked in a deep red robe, their face hidden in shadow. They looked up as she approached, their sharp eyes glinting in the firelight.
"Well, well," the figure said in a voice that sent a chill down her spine. "It seems the lost princess has finally come to claim her birthright."
Elysia stopped in her tracks, heart pounding. "Who are you?" she demanded, though the words seemed to tremble in her mouth.
The figure stood slowly, revealing a tall, wiry frame. He was older than she expected, his face weathered but youthful eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom. "I am not your enemy," he said with a cryptic smile. "I have been waiting for you, Elysia of Vaeloria."
Elysia stiffened. "How do you know my name?"
He stepped closer, and for the first time, she noticed the faint glow of flames dancing in his palm, the tips of his fingers flickering like embers. "The magic of Vaeloria runs deep. I know many things. And I know that you are destined to awaken the forgotten powers of your ancestors. But you cannot do it alone."
Elysia was silent, wary of this stranger and his cryptic words. She had no reason to trust him. "What do you want from me?"
"I seek nothing," he said calmly. "I only offer help. You must find the Phoenix of Vaeloria. The one who will guide you to the heart of the realm. But beware. There are others searching for it, and they will stop at nothing to claim its power for themselves."
Elysia's mind raced. "The Phoenix?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "But how do I find it?"
The man smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "You already have, in a way."
At that, he turned and raised his hand, releasing a burst of flame that soared into the air, leaving a trail of sparks in its wake. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
From the depths of the forest came a low, haunting cry—a sound unlike anything Elysia had ever heard before. It echoed through the trees, resonating deep within her chest.
The Phoenix had answered.
The man looked at Elysia, his gaze serious now. "It is time. Follow its call, and you will find what you seek."
Elysia stood frozen for a moment, the weight of her destiny pressing down on her shoulders. But the sound of the Phoenix's cry seemed to stir something deep within her, a connection she couldn't deny. The time had come to embrace her heritage and step into the world of magic and wonder that awaited.
With a final glance at the mysterious stranger, she turned toward the cry, knowing that her journey was only just beginning. The Phoenix would guide her, but the path would be fraught with peril.
And she was ready to face it.