Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 8 - Entering a Strange Place

Ava hesitated as she stepped into the new environment, her heart pounding in her chest. The space before her was not the familiar confines of her secret room, nor was it any part of her house she recognized. Instead, she found herself standing among the ruins of what once must have been a grand castle, now crumbled and forgotten. Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly closed the door behind her, pulling the ring on the opposite side, sealing off her only exit.

"This can't be real," she whispered, scanning the landscape. To her left, a stone wall stood in partial collapse, with large pieces scattered across the ground like fallen giants. Beyond the wall, she could see the faint outline of trees, grass, and—impossibly—mountains rising in the distance. "Mountains? We don't have mountains where I live," she muttered, rubbing her eyes as if trying to wake herself from a dream.

Turning to her right, she spotted stone pillars, their surfaces worn smooth by time, standing like sentinels guarding a forgotten past. "It looks like no one has lived here for centuries," Ava murmured, her voice shaky as she continued to take in the scene. Her sense of unease grew with every passing second.

Her instinct told her to retreat, to return to the safety of her room. She reached back for the door without looking, but her hand found only empty air. Panic surged through her as she turned around, expecting to see the door, but it was gone. In its place was nothing but more ruins, blending seamlessly into the surrounding decay. "Oh no! Where am I?" she gasped, her voice trembling as she backed away from the spot where the door should have been.

Tears pricked at her eyes, but as quickly as they came, they were replaced by an odd sense of calm. A memory of her Mamaw Belinda surfaced, a warm reminder of the strength that faith could bring. Taking a deep breath, Ava closed her eyes, clinging to that memory. "I'll be just fine. I can find my way home," she whispered, steeling herself against the fear.

Opening her eyes, she resolved to explore the castle for any clues that might help her understand where she was or how to get back. The castle must have been magnificent in its time, she thought as she wandered through the remnants of what appeared to be a grand hall. Statues lay toppled, their faces weathered beyond recognition. Paintings, once vibrant, now faded, clung to the walls in tatters. An old, torn tapestry fluttered gently in the wind, drawing her attention.

Carefully stepping over the scattered stones, Ava approached the tapestry, which depicted a family standing before a forest with massive, wolf-like creatures by their side. Above them, a section had worn away, leaving a blank space where something significant must have been. The writing at the bottom was in a language she didn't recognize. "This isn't English," she murmured, squinting at the strange characters. "Maybe it's from some ancient civilization."

As she stood there, studying the tapestry, a noise echoed through the ruins, pulling her from her thoughts. Her heart leapt into her throat. "People!" she thought, hope rising within her. Perhaps they could tell her where she was or help her find her way back home.

She quickly turned toward the sound, moving with renewed urgency. She navigated through the broken walls and empty courtyards, her footsteps quickening as she followed the noise. Entering a large grassy courtyard surrounded by outer walls, she paused to take in the vast space. "This place is huge," she whispered in awe, imagining how grand it must have been when it was whole. "Hello?" she called out, hoping for a response. But the only answer was the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Determined not to give up, she continued toward what she thought was the source of the sound. She passed through the remnants of the main gates and found herself in another expansive clearing, the ground here a mix of stone and overgrown grass. In the distance, she could see the outline of a dense forest, the trees dark against the fading light.