The Prophecy of the Seven

Chapter 1: The Forbidden Gate

Once upon a time, in a remote village, there lived a young girl named Lyra. She had grown up in this cold, barren land, where trees seemed to groan under the weight of endless winters. In this village, Lyra found neither warmth in people's gazes nor kindness in their words. She had become the shadow of her own dreams, wandering through alleys where people regarded her as an intruder, a pariah. Rumors whispered that she brought misfortune, that her pale eyes attracted bad omens. They were only superstitions, yet they had become a mask she couldn't remove, a prison.

That day, the entire village seemed to have turned against her. Hostile faces, venomous whispers, stifled laughter behind her back... it had become unbearable. She felt the dull hatred surrounding her like a thick, oppressive fog, and this time, she could no longer bear it. Lyra crossed the village boundary without looking back, her breath quickening, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and relief. She followed the winding path leading toward the hills on the edge of the forest. There, amidst the young trees and brambles, a small cave opened timidly between two rocks. She had never dared to venture this far before, but today, anything seemed less frightening than remaining in the village.

Inside the cave, silence hung, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the distant whisper of the wind. A shiver ran down her spine, but she clenched her fists. After all, she had come this far to escape fear, to leave behind a place where her presence was always unwelcome, where every look reminded her that she didn't belong. In the village, glances were like invisible arrows; every whispered word, a blow.

Determined to face the unknown, Lyra stepped into the cave. The dark entrance seemed to swallow her the moment she set foot inside. The daylight faded behind her, and shadows grew, sliding along the walls like dark waves. Her steps echoed faintly, amplifying the sound of her own breath. The cold stone under her fingers urged her forward, reminding her that retreat was no longer an option. She had crossed this forest and left her village for a reason.

As she ventured deeper, a soft blue light began to glow along the walls of the cave. She couldn't identify its source, as if the glow floated in the air itself, pulsing gently like a heartbeat. The deeper she went, the brighter the glow, illuminating the cave in an almost enchanting, unreal light. It radiated from countless small crystals embedded in the cave walls, each seeming to pulse with a life of its own. Fascinated, she approached, ignoring the warning chill that prickled her skin.

Suddenly, a blinding light burst forth, forcing her to close her eyes. Her breath caught as she felt the light envelop her, wrapping around every fiber of her being with a warmth that was both foreign and comforting, like a dream that was at once strange and familiar. A floating sensation washed over her, as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.

When she opened her eyes, the dark rock of the cave was gone. She now stood in a vast plain bordered by hills bathed in a soft, golden light. The sky was an intense blue unlike any she'd ever seen, and the air was filled with the fragrance of wildflowers and damp earth, fresh and invigorating.

Around her, a thick, soft carpet of grass stretched out, while in the distance, towering trees with twisted trunks rose to the sky. Their branches interlaced like the fingers of a giant hand, draped in emerald-green leaves from which flowers of every color seemed to bloom. Lyra was speechless. She had never seen a place so vibrant, so alive.

As she stood, still in awe, she sensed a presence behind her. Turning, she saw a boy with strange features: skin as pale as alabaster and eyes of deep red, piercing like embers. He gazed at her in silence, his expression unreadable.

"Welcome," he said in a calm, almost hypnotic voice. "You have crossed into Etherea, a place few souls are ever called to discover."

Lyra took a small step back, her heart pounding harder. "Etherea?" she murmured. She glanced around, feeling a mix of wonder and anxiety.

The boy nodded. "My name is Kaelen. Here, nothing is like in your world. Etherea is a realm of revelations and secrets. Those who come here do not arrive by chance."

Lyra opened her mouth to respond, but a gentle, raspy voice interrupted.

"Strangers are rare in Etherea, especially those brave enough to venture here alone."

She turned to see a girl with feline features, golden eyes both piercing and curious, shimmering in the light. Her pointed ears, covered in a fine down, gave her an aura both wild and mysterious.

"I am Edrin," she said with a half-amused, half-cautious smile. "And you, stranger, what are you searching for? Why have you come to Etherea?"

Lyra hesitated, her thoughts still clouded by the beauty and strangeness of this place. "I... I was fleeing," she finally admitted. "I wanted to find a place where I could be free... free from judgment, from hate."

Edrin watched her with a glimmer of understanding, her smile widening. "Freedom, you say? Etherea may offer it... but here, every step comes with a price. One cannot wander in the realm of souls without being ready to reveal what lies deepest within."

Kaelen nodded, his red eyes fixed on her. "Etherea calls to those prepared to face their truths. But be aware—paths here are rarely straightforward, and every secret bears its weight."

Lyra felt a sour hesitation rising within her. Had she done the right thing coming here? Yet something in the gazes of Edrin and Kaelen encouraged her to stay, to see what this world had to offer. For the first time, she felt a strange sense of understanding in their eyes, as if this mysterious place already knew everything about her.

Edrin held out her hand, an enigmatic smile playing on her lips.

"So, Lyra, are you ready to journey into Etherea and uncover the truths hidden here? This path will not be easy, but here, you are no longer alone."

Kaelen, his arms crossed, added in a soft but serious tone, "We may be your guides, but it's up to you to find your own way in this realm. If you choose to continue, prepare to face your fears and see beyond illusions."

Lyra took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their invitation. She clasped Edrin's hand, ready to step into the unknown, where perhaps, amid Etherea's mysteries, she could finally discover her true self and find the freedom she had always sought.