Elayne's ordinary life takes a drastic turn when she discovers she is part of an ancient prophecy tied to the mythical kingdom of Elyssanar. Guided by Solaris, a unique companion with secrets of his own, Elayne embarks on a journey fraught with chal...
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When I finally got home, the streetlights outside had already turned on. My small apartment was dim, but I didn’t care. I headed straight to my bed. Darkness didn’t bother me, so I wasn’t worried about stubbing my toes on the furniture.
Cuddling up in my blankets, I was just about to drift off to sleep when I heard a creaking noise outside my door. I lived alone, and despite my place being small and clean, I didn’t bring anyone over.
“Hello?” I called out into the darkness.
The creaking continued, and I hesitantly got out of bed. Opening the door, I looked into the hallway but saw nothing. Shrugging it off, I closed the door and turned around, almost shrieking in surprise.
On my bed was a large cat. An actual cat this time. He was orange with white stripes on his tail and was just staring at me.
“What the heck!” I squeaked, attempting to shoo him away. “How the hell did you get in here?”
He blinked slowly, almost lazily, and turned around a few times before plopping his furry body on my bed.
“And who do you think you are, taking my bed?” I moved over and picked him up.
I carried him to my window, which had stairs leading down, so he wouldn’t have to jump. “Come on, dude. Really? Sneaking into my apartment and scaring the hell out of me? That’s not how this works, bud.”
I hoped it was a ‘he’ and quickly checked. Thankfully, I was correct. “I don’t remember inviting a random stray into my home.” I set him on the windowsill and closed it, leaving him outside.
When I got back into bed, I heard scratching and saw him pawing at my window, meowing.
“Now he asks for permission,” I mumbled to myself.
With a sigh, I got out of bed and opened the window again. Instantly, he walked in and padded to my bed, purring profusely.
“Whatever,” I chuckled and got into bed with him. “Just know this isn’t a very gentleman-like situation.”
I crawled under the covers, and he snuggled up against my arm.
A few minutes later, I was asleep.
“Elayne.” My name was called in a soothing voice. I found myself in the middle of a forest, surrounded by dense foliage.
“Hello?”
“Elayne. Come to me, my child.”
“Where are you?” I called out, turning in every direction.
“Find me, Elayne. Find me.” The woman’s voice pulled me like an invisible thread. I walked toward it, feeling an inexplicable tug on my chest.
“Find me, Elayne. Find me and find yourself…” Her voice was ancient and soothing, melting away my frustration and fear. I followed the sound and came upon a statue. A tall statue of a woman.
Her appearance was beautiful. The area was bathed in rays of light, highlighting the forest’s beauty around it. Flowers grew at its base, and the woman’s head was adorned with a crown of blossoms. She looked down at the spot before her, hands together in prayer.
Her flowing dress seemed to be made of vines and more flowers adorned the cape around her shoulders. Birds sat atop them.
“Find me, Elayne. Find me.” The statue spoke, its mouth moving while its eyes remained fixed downward.
I felt myself drawn closer until I was standing directly before it, staring up into its gaze.
“Elayne. My dear child, you have found me. There is danger, danger that threatens our existence. You must destroy it.”
“Wait, what? Who are you?” I asked, feeling her gaze pierce into my soul.
“I am you. Your existence is alive because of me. I am your creator.”
“What? How is that possible?”
“I am your ancestor. You are my legacy passed down through generations. You are the next heir.”
“The heir to what…” I felt my stomach drop, even before she spoke.
“The kingdom of Elyssanar. You are its next Queen and protector.”
I thought back to Mr. Hatten’s book and laughed.
“You’re just a dream. A dream meant to tangle my mind. You aren’t real.”
A few moments of silence passed before her voice chuckled, sending a tingling vibration through my bones.
“You do not look like your parents. You have a soft heart for the animals around you, day in and out. I have kept you out of harm’s way this long, child. Now it is your time to take back what was once ours.”
“Y-you know my parents?”
“I know everything about you, dear. It is you who must find out the rest yourself, child. You must protect yourself from the looming danger that threatens your life. They will destroy everything you hold dear along with your home. A home you have yet to discover.”
“You have met a Gaianist, yes? I assume he has been keeping a close eye on you?”
I instantly remembered Mr. Hatten appearing near the enclosure of Solaris. I had dismissed his presence as merely observing his new animal, but maybe there was something more.
“You’re Gaia…” I said, a statement rather than a question.
Gaia continued to look down at me, confirming my statement.
I thought back to the book I had read. “Wait, if this is all real, why should I trust you? You broke a promise. Why should I fix your mistake?” I realized after that moment that I had questioned a goddess and quickly cleared my throat, avoiding her gaze.
“Some truths turn out to be wrong, my child. Now, you must go. Trust your gut, dear. And whenever you need help, look to your surroundings, for they shall always protect you.”
The sun shifted, casting a golden beam through the trees and directly onto Gaia’s gaze. The light enveloped me, creating a blinding halo around her form. An overwhelming rush of energy surged through me, touching every fiber of my being, stirring emotions I couldn’t fully understand.
I jolted awake, my heart racing as the sensation of a higher presence lingered in the back of my mind.
Doubts swirled like a turbulent storm. Was this dream a genuine message or a figment of my imagination.
I sat up in bed, the dream’s impact still fresh, and grappled with a creeping sense of disbelief.
There it was. That doubt.
I knew it was coming. I should have called my brother.
I was excited enough that now I was hallucinating. Having true illusions to a book that I read in passing.
But how could it have felt that real? How could Gaia pretend she knew me? It had to have been just a dream reflecting on my day. Yes, I was snooping in Mr. Hatten’s personal books but now maybe I was in over my head.
There was no way this stuff existed. I was getting ahead of myself now.
But in the back of my mind, I knew that this was something I had to put to rest.
━─━────༺༻────━─━ Hello lovelies! Since I didn't post until this morning, I have gifted you with two chapters today! Hope you enjoy!
