The World She Wished For

15. The Call of Fate

I sat there, trying to make sense of Sir Theodore’s words, but everything he said felt like a language I couldn’t understand.

His voice was clear, yet the meaning escaped me entirely, leaving me more confused with each passing moment.

Just when I was about to give up, a mesmerizing aroma filled the air around me, pulling me into its captivating embrace.

I couldn't help but get lost in the sweetness of the scent, momentarily forgetting everything else.

As I soaked in the aroma, Lady Beatrice walked in, carrying a tray gracefully with gloved hands. She approached us with a warm smile that instantly made me feel at ease.

“Dear, I’ve brought cookies for you,” she said kindly, setting the tray down in front of me.

I reached out, picking up a cookie, and before I could respond, she leaned in closer, covering her mouth with one hand as she whispered, "Don’t worry, I don’t understand a word of what he says either."

A small laugh escaped me, breaking through the confusion I’d been feeling.

Lady Beatrice smiled too, her eyes twinkling with shared amusement. Suddenly, everything felt lighter, and I relaxed into the moment.

I took a bite of the cookie, and my eyes widened. “Oh my goodness,” I exclaimed softly. “These are incredible! I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”

Lady Beatrice’s face brightened even more at my compliment. “I’m so happy you like them, dear.”

She then turned to Snowy, offering him a cookie as well. With eagerness in his eyes, Snowy took one, nibbling at it joyfully. “See, Mira?” he said, his little voice filled with delight. “I told you, nothing compares to the food in Elysoria, especially when Lady Beatrice makes it. So delicious!”

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief settle over me.

Between Lady Beatrice’s kindness, Snowy’s ever-present charm, and the magic of Elysoria, I felt truly at peace for the first time in a long while.

As I finished the last bite of the delicious cookie, Lady Beatrice’s smile widened. She seemed pleased, almost as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

“Would you like to see something truly special, Mira?” she asked, her voice soft and inviting.

Curiosity stirred within me, and I nodded eagerly. “I’d love to.”

Lady Beatrice stood gracefully, motioning for me to follow. Snowy hopped along beside me as we made our way out of the room and into a long corridor. The walls shimmered as we walked, and I felt the energy of Elysoria buzzing in the air. There was something magical about this place.... Something alive.

We stepped through a set of ornate double doors that led outside, and my breath caught in my throat. Before me lay the most beautiful garden I had ever seen.

The trees seemed to glow with a faint golden light, their leaves rustling softly as if whispering secrets to each other.

Flowers of every color imaginable blanketed the ground, their petals shimmering like delicate gems under the sunlight.

The air was filled with a soft melody, a song that I couldn’t quite place but could feel deep in my heart.

“Welcome to the Gardens of Eternity,” Lady Beatrice said, her voice carrying a sense of pride. “This is one of the oldest and most magical places in all of Elysoria.”

As I took a step forward, the ground beneath me seemed to respond, and the flowers swayed gently in my direction, as though greeting me. I knelt down, touching one of the petals, which felt impossibly soft like silk, but even more delicate.

“Do you hear that?” Snowy whispered beside me. “The trees are talking. They only do that when they sense someone important.”

I looked up at the trees, my eyes wide. Their branches moved ever so slightly, almost like a nod, and though I couldn’t make out the words, I could feel the warmth of their welcome.

I stood up, taking in the beauty around me, feeling a sense of wonder I hadn’t known existed. “It’s so... peaceful. And so beautiful.”

Lady Beatrice smiled softly. “This is the heart of Elysoria. A place of pure magic, where the connection between nature and spirit is strongest.”

Suddenly, a flock of birds with iridescent feathers soared above us, their wings catching the light in dazzling colors.

They circled the sky in a graceful dance before swooping down to rest in the trees, singing a song so sweet it made my heart ache with joy.

I turned to Lady Beatrice. “I’ve never seen anything like this...”

“There’s much more to Elysoria than meets the eye,” she said, a mysterious glint in her gaze. “You’re only just beginning to discover it.”

As I admired the garden's beauty, I almost forgot about Sir Theodore. I glanced over my shoulder, expecting him to be standing far behind us, but to my surprise, he was already beside me, watching with a gentle smile.

“I see the Gardens of Eternity have already made quite the impression on you,” he said, his voice soft yet commanding. There was a depth to his words that hinted at something more, something I still couldn’t fully grasp.

I nodded. “It’s... beyond anything I could have imagined. I didn’t even think a place like this could exist.”

Sir Theodore chuckled, his eyes twinkling with an ancient wisdom. “Elysoria has many wonders, Mira. But this garden, in particular, holds a special significance. The trees, the flowers, the very soil here. they remember everything. They’ve witnessed countless stories, some joyful, some tragic, but all connected to the magic that binds this realm together.”

I listened closely, trying to understand the weight of his words. There was something deeper in what he was saying, something that stirred a strange feeling inside me.

Lady Beatrice placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “My dear, He is right. This place is sacred. It reacts to those who enter it. I’ve seen it glow brightest when someone destined for greatness steps foot here.”

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, and I suddenly felt like the garden itself was watching me, sensing something I wasn’t yet aware of.

Sir Theodore’s expression softened, but his eyes held that same intensity. “The magic here... it’s alive, Mira. And it seems to have taken quite the interest in you. There’s a reason why Lady Beatrice brought you here.”

I blinked in surprise, looking between the two of them. “A reason?”

Sir Theodore nodded. “You’ve already begun to unravel the mysteries of Elysoria, but there’s so much more to discover. The garden knows this. It welcomes you because you have a part to play in this realm’s story... a part you’re only just beginning to understand.”

A chill ran down my spine, not out of fear, but from the weight of his words. “But... I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Sir Theodore smiled warmly. “In time, you will. The answers will come to you, just as the garden whispers to those who listen.”

Snowy, who had been quietly munching his cookie, suddenly spoke up. “Mira, it seems like the magic of Elysoria likes you even more than I thought. Sir Theodore is rarely this... direct.”

Sir Theodore chuckled. “Perhaps. But there is no mistaking the connection between you and this place.”

I stood there, the garden’s soft melody surrounding me, and for the first time, I felt like I was truly a part of Elysoria and not just an observer, but someone with a purpose.

Though I didn’t know what that purpose was, I could feel the magic of the garden stirring within me, as if urging me to listen, to pay attention, and to trust in what was to come.

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A/N: See you soon in the next chapter.
Byee

Word Count: 1299