__
Some things never return the same _
_
ð The Veilpond â Vision
Continued...
The image shifted.
She saw herself â but not the girl standing by the pond.
This version of Dunira was battle-worn. Her ocean-blue eyes glowed faintly, burning like embers beneath a cracked brow.
Around her, the world was broken.
Ruined buildings smoked under a bruised sky.
Ash drifted like snow.
Distant war drums echoed.
Tattered figures stumbled through the wreckage, shadows twisting and clawing at their heels.
Her shadow-self gripped a blade dripping with dark water â
the same blade from her dreams.
A whisper curled in her ear:
> âRiiisse... or faaaalllll...â
The vision shattered.
The water rippled back to stillness.
Duniraâs heart pounded.
Was this her future? A warning? A path she must take?
She wiped sweat from her brow.
> âIâm late â bye!â
Myna fluttered in place, her glow flickering nervously.
> âDuniraâ¦?â she whispered, but the girl didnât look back.
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As Dunira stepped forward, the water peeled open like silk.
Not wet. Not cold. Just⦠pulling.
Each step felt like she was walking through a memory.
This wasnât ordinary water â it didnât soak or splash.
It held no weight, no wetness. Just pull.
And as she entered â
the world shifted.
--
â°ï¸ Waterfall Path â Outskirts of Valethir
She emerged by a sparkling waterfall, cool mist brushing her skin.
Around her, a busy street buzzed with life â
students dressed like her, carrying bags stamped with the academy crest.
Some chatted quietly. Others hurried past,
all heading toward the towering academy gates.
Dunira stood before the gates, her breath quiet in the misty morning air.
> âFor days now, Iâve been seeing the same dream,â she thought.
âThe woman in blue, the knife, the blood oath⦠the storm.â¦
And now the vision in Veilpond⦠the disappearances in Auralisâ¦â
Was it all just coincidence? Or some kind of warning?â
A chill ran down her spine â not entirely from fear.
Part of her was⦠curious.
With a sharp tug, she adjusted her collar â ready to face whatever came next.
> Is this scary?
Maybe.
Exciting?
Absolutely.
And with that, she walked forward toward the gate.
---
Scene 2
ð«ï¸ Mistbank Forest â Lunareth Outskirts
Mist clung low to the ground, thick and cold.
The forest path wound quietly through the trees â as if holding its breath.
A girl in Valethir Academyâs soft blue uniform walked alone, her satchel swinging gently as her boots tapped over stone and moss. The academy crest shimmered faintly on her shoulder.
She paused.
Somewhere in the thicket to her rightâ¦
the bushes shivered.
She turned quickly.
Leaves rustled â then settled.
Nothing there.
She hesitated, then shook her head and kept walking.
From behind her, a voice curled out of the brush:
> Unknown: âLiraaâ¦â
She froze.
Turned slowly.
> âJerom? Is that you?â
Silence.
Then againâcloser:
> Unknown: âLiraâ¦â
A whisper. Drawn-out.
Not playful. Not right.
She frowned.
> âOkay. Ha-ha. You got me. Now stop.â
Still nothing.
> âJerom?â
Her voice trembled now.
No answer.
Then once more â softer, almost in her ear:
> Unknown: âLiiiraaaâ¦â
Longer. Slower. Wrong.
Her stomach dropped.
The trees stood silent.
She turned to runâ
but something slithered from beneath the brush.
A black fog â thick as oil, silent as breath â wrapped around her ankle.
She gaspedâ
then screamed.
Face-first, she hit the ground, clawing at dirt and leaves.
> âNoâno! Let go!â
Her boots kicked wildly.
The shadow pulled harder â dragging her back into the thicket.
Her scream tore through the woodsâ
high and rawâ
And thenâ
Silence.
Only her satchel lay on the path.
The mist curled back over the ground.
As if nothing had ever passed through.
𩸠End of chapter 2nd