NEW LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD

1.Through the mirror

A soft glow illuminated the room as Seraphina Elysia Vale sat before her vanity, meticulously applying the final touches of her makeup. The brush glided across her skin, painting her reflection with hues of confidence and poise. Yet, beneath the surface, a flicker of unease danced in her eyes—a feeling she couldn’t quite place.

She leaned closer to the mirror, her breath fogging the glass as she scrutinized her work. The world outside her window was quiet, the city’s hum distant and faint. Everything seemed perfectly normal, perfectly routine.

But tonight felt different.

As she reached for the lipstick, a sudden chill swept through the room, making her shiver. The light in her bedroom dimmed, and the mirror before her began to ripple like the surface of a disturbed pond. She froze, her hand suspended in mid-air, watching in stunned silence as the reflection in the glass twisted and warped.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, the world around her dissolved into darkness. She felt a strange pull, as if something was drawing her into the mirror itself. Panic surged through her, but it was too late to resist. The room, her reflection, her very being—everything was swallowed by the void.

When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in her bedroom. The familiar surroundings had vanished, replaced by towering trees and a sky that shimmered with colors she had never seen before. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers and the sound of distant, unfamiliar creatures. She stood in the middle of an ancient forest, her heart racing as she took in the breathtaking, yet eerie, beauty of this new world.

She was lost—utterly and completely. But as the initial shock began to fade, a sense of wonder and curiosity took its place. Wherever she was, it was far from the life she knew. And there was no turning back.

She stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat, her mind racing to make sense of the impossible. The vibrant, alien forest surrounded her, its towering trees and thick underbrush casting shadows that seemed to pulse with hidden life.

Her heart pounded, the echoes of distant animal cries chilling her to the bone.Before she could move or even think, something heavy thudded to the ground in front of her. Startled, she looked down to see her makeup pouch—her lifeline as a beauty influencer—sprawled open on the forest floor. It was no ordinary pouch; it was a treasure trove of tools and products, meticulously organized with everything she needed for her daily craft. Foundations, palettes, mascaras, eyeliners, brushes of every kind—her entire professional kit, the arsenal that had once made her a star in the modern world, now lay scattered among the wildflowers and moss.

The sight of it was both grounding and surreal, a small fragment of her old life in this bewildering new reality. She dropped to her knees, desperately gathering the scattered items, as if holding onto them could somehow anchor her to something familiar, something safe. But the forest was anything but safe. The sounds of distant creatures grew louder, more menacing, and the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs set her nerves on edge.

Her hands trembled as she clutched the pouch to her chest, eyes darting around the unfamiliar terrain. She could barely breathe, her fear tightening like a vice. What is this place? How did I get here? The questions looped through her mind, but there were no answers, only the oppressive silence and the looming shadows.

And then she heard it—a rustling in the bushes to her right, the sound of something moving through the undergrowth. Her heart leapt into her throat, terror seizing her body. This is it, she thought, her mind spiraling into panic. I’m going to die here. I’m going to die in this strange, terrifying place.She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst, expecting a wild animal to lunge at her from the shadows. But instead of the savage growl she feared, there was a voice—a deep, steady voice, calling out.