The World She Wished For

13. The Time Has Come

Continued...

The moment I stepped into my room, I felt the weight lift from my shoulders.

I closed the door softly behind me, leaning against it with a sigh of relief.

"That was close," I whispered, my heart still racing from the day's events.

I was safe, at least for now.

Ethan had been particularly menacing today, but by some twist of fate, that mysterious man had intervened just when I thought things would take a dark turn.

Snowy hopped out of my bag, his white fur shining as if it had absorbed all the light from the room.

His calm presence always soothed me.

"You did well today," he said, his voice soft but regal.

"I was terrified, Snowy," I admitted, sitting on the floor and hugging my knees.

"Ethan... he's relentless. I don't know why he's like this, why he hates me so much."

My voice cracked, and I tried to hold back the tears that always seemed to be at the edge of my emotions.

"But that man... whoever he was... He saved me."

Snowy hopped closer, placing his paw gently on my knee.

"You're stronger than you realize, Mira. There are forces at play in your life that even you cannot yet understand."

I looked into his golden eyes, feeling a strange comfort in his words. "Forces? Like magic?"

He chuckled softly, the sound like a gentle breeze in the evening air.

"Not all magic is visible, Mira. Some of it is within you. You've faced so much already and yet you still stand tall."

I let out a long breath, feeling a warmth spread through me.

It wasn't the first time Snowy had offered me advice that felt beyond this world.

And yet, every time he spoke, I felt a little more sure of myself, as if his words were weaving a protective cocoon around me.

"I wish my life wasn't so..." I paused, struggling to find the right word.

"Chaotic?" Snowy offered.

"Lonely," I corrected, my voice a whisper.

"I feel like I'm invisible, even though Ethan seems to see me all too well. No one else does."

Snowy's eyes softened, and he nudged my hand with his nose.

"You're never truly alone, Mira. Not while I'm here. And soon, you'll understand that the loneliness you feel will be replaced by something extraordinary."

I tilted my head, puzzled.

But before I could ask what he meant, he looked toward the door.

"Now, shall we eat? I believe you're in need of something comforting."

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Let's go."

In the dining hall, I moved quietly, picking up food for both of us.

Snowy sat perched in my bag, his presence unnoticed by everyone around.

The bustle of the room was a stark contrast to the peace I felt knowing that, at least for tonight, I was safe.

After grabbing enough for us, I slipped back upstairs, careful not to draw any attention.

Back in my room, I laid out the food on my desk.

Snowy jumped up gracefully, landing beside the plate I had set for him.

We ate in silence for a while, the simple act of sharing a meal with him bringing a strange kind of peace.

It was strange how close we'd grown, but I couldn't imagine my life without him now.

"This is nice," I said softly, breaking the silence.

"Having you here. It makes everything... bearable."

Snowy gave me a knowing look. "You're stronger when you're not alone, Mira. And soon, you'll understand why I'm really here."

Just as I was about to ask what he meant, Snowy's ears twitched.

He straightened, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he was listening for something I couldn't hear.

"What is it?" I asked, confused.

"I hear it," Snowy murmured, his voice serious.

"The time has come."

I froze. "The time... for what?"

He hopped off the desk and landed gracefully on the floor, looking at me with an intensity I hadn't seen before.

"Tonight, Mira, you will enter Elysoria."

My heart skipped a beat. "Elysoria? But... How?"

"You're ready now," he said simply, his voice calm, yet filled with magic. "Everything has led to this moment."

"The trials, the loneliness, the dreams. Elysoria awaits you. And I must prepare."

I watched in awe as Snowy moved around the room, seemingly pulling things from thin air.

Little shimmering lights appeared as he hopped, forming a path of glowing orbs around us.

His fur seemed to glow brighter, and the air itself felt charged with energy.

The world around me started to shift, and my room began to blur as if reality itself was bending.

"Snowy... what's happening?"

He looked back at me, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "Elysoria is calling, Mira. And you... you're destined to walk its lands. I've been waiting for this moment since the day we met."

I couldn't speak.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched him weave his magic, the room around me transforming into something ethereal.

The walls seemed to fade, replaced by the soft, shimmering glow of another world.

"Close your eyes," Snowy whispered gently.

"And when you open them, you'll be in the place where dreams come alive."

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A/N: and, the story begins....

See you soon!!!!!

Word Count: 883