Miradel: The Harmonic Saga

The Farm of False Promises

In an instant, the world around them faded to black, the only sound being their hushed breaths. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, Eryx, Sanjay, Arielle, Drysella, and the cloaked man emerged from the darkness. They stepped out from a shadow next to a large barn. Eryx could feel the earth beneath his feet. It was rich and fertile, starkly contrasting to the barren outskirts they had left moments ago. The air was fresh, filled with the scents of hay and blooming flora, the gentle sounds of farm life surrounding them.

"Look at that..." Arielle said as she turned around. They were met with the awe-inspiring sight of Miradel's inner world. The colossal walls they had seen from the outside now loomed over them from within. They stood amidst the verdant farmlands at Miradel's edge. The outer walls were within reach here. As they looked toward the heart of the city. The buildings began their majestic ascent, each layer climbing higher than the last. Like a mountain crafted by human hands, the city rose, its higher tiers disappearing into the clouds. From this humble vantage point among the crops, Eryx could feel the stark contrast between the grounded simplicity of the farmlands and the towering ambition of Miradel.

"We made it... I mean, we actually made it..." Arielle said in disbelief.

"I can't believe you doubted me. Truly, it hurts," Sanjay said, clutching his chest.

"Right then, my job is done. Ya'll can sleep in the barn for tonight. The Master will be here to collect you in the morning," the cloaked man said as Drysella again took his arm.

Had Eryx and his family not been too overwhelmed by Miradel's grandeur, they would have noticed Drysella looking back over her shoulder and seeing the sadness and pity on her face. Had they not been so consumed with the sights and smells of this brave new world, they would have paid more attention to the cloaked man's words. And had Eryx been a little more focused, he would have paid more attention to that feeling in his gut. He would have noticed that longing he had felt just before leaving the Faywilds was suddenly replaced.

Replaced with a strange and intense feeling of dread.

Instead, they settled into the barn, their bodies weary but their hearts alive with the possibilities ahead. It wasn't until the middle of the night, when Eryx's nerves settled that he finally sensed something was amiss.

The cloaked man had said the Master would collect us in the morning. What did he mean by collect us?

The phrase echoed in his mind over and over. Eventually, he couldn't make any more sense of the words and the information he had and sleep finally claimed him in the wee hours of the night.

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the cracks of the barn, casting a warm, golden glow. Eryx was the first to rise, his eyes immediately drawn to the view outside. The farm stretched before them, bathed in the serene light of dawn. The trees were laden with fruits, and the fields were lush and green, representing peace and abundance. Yet, as he watched, Eryx's brow furrowed in confusion. The farm was eerily quiet, devoid of activity.

With cautious steps, Eryx moved closer, his eyes scanning the fields. The gentle hush of the dawn was broken only by his footfalls on the dew-kissed earth.

As Eryx ventured further, an unsettling realization dawned on him.

There's no one here... There's nothing here...

The fields, though vast and meticulously tended, were hauntingly barren. Row upon row of plowed soil stretched before him, yet not a single sprout of green peeked through the earth.

The air was crisp, yet it lacked the earthy scent of growth and life. Even though many considered The Faywilds barren, it didn't feel like this. They were always bustling with activity. But here, no tendrils of morning mist weaved between stalks of corn or vines of beans because there were none. It was as if the very essence of a farm – its lush, nurturing bounty – had been meticulously extracted, leaving behind a skeleton of order and precision.