The Awakening

Chapter 7: Elysora

     The road to Elysora was long, but with every step, Cambry could feel her heritage pulling her closer to an inescapable truth. Towering trees lined the path, their silver-tinted leaves glittering in the eternal twilight of the Fae realm. As she and Aurelia neared the shimmering gates of the city, a sense of familiarity washed over Cambry—though she had never been here before, Elysora felt like home. More than anywhere she had ever known.

The gates parted with a silent command, and they stepped into a city woven from dreams. Polished stone streets gleamed beneath their feet, while houses seemed to grow from the earth itself, their walls made of living wood and vines that pulsed with magic. Above them, a grand citadel loomed, its spires shimmering with a soft, inner light.

"This is... incredible," Aurelia breathed, eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the ethereal beauty.

Cambry couldn't speak. A strange mix of awe and apprehension twisted in her chest. Her mother waited within this city—Lyria, the woman who had hidden her true identity for so many years. But something darker lurked at the edges of her mind, a truth waiting to be uncovered.

They walked deeper into the city, their footsteps echoing against the stone. A figure emerged from the crowd: Lyria, her silver hair flowing in the breeze, her eyes piercing as she stood at the base of the citadel steps. She wore the same flowing robes as when Cambry had first seen her, appearing out of nowhere in their childhood home.

The reunion was bittersweet. "Mother," Cambry whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Lyria smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. "Welcome home, Cambry," she said softly, embracing her daughter. "There is much you need to know, and now that you're here, safe, we have time."

As they walked inside the citadel, the air grew thick with the scent of ancient magic. The grand hall they entered was lined with tapestries depicting Fae legends, but Cambry's eyes were drawn to a massive stone table in the center. Upon it rested a glowing orb and an ancient book—the very same book she had found back in the human world.

How was it here? Cambry took it from the house, it was in her bag and she'd never handed it over to anyone.

Lyria gestured for them to sit, her voice heavy with secrets as she began to speak. "Before you were born, Cambry, a deal was made between our family and another—a powerful family, the Sythraks. We believed them to be our allies. We were wrong."

Cambry's heart raced as the truth unraveled before her. She had been promised to Sythrak, the very enemy they were now preparing to fight. The prophecy that shaped her life began to take form in her mind, but there was no time to dwell on the past.

Aurelia squeezed her hand. "You'll be okay, Mom," she whispered. "We'll figure this out."

Cambry and Aurelia were led out of the citadel and into the vast open expanse of the Elysora Training Grounds. The twilight had deepened, the sky now a vast sea of stars with no moon to guide them. The air thrummed with energy, thick with magic.

A tall Fae warrior stood waiting for them. Theron. His wings shimmered in the starlight, translucent and ethereal. His gaze was sharp, assessing, as he took in the sight of the two women standing before him.

"You will train with me," he said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of authority. "We have little time, and you must be prepared for what's coming. Sythrak is more dangerous than you can imagine."

Theron motioned for them to follow, leading them to a secluded part of the grounds. Here, the earth beneath their feet was softer, the grass giving way to a clearing lined with tall, stone obelisks. The obelisks thrummed with magic, their runes glowing faintly in the night.