Colossal, stone structures of various heights and shapes jutted unevenly into the cool blue veil of the cloudless morning sky, creating an exquisite horizon that stood out against the gargantuan mountain range beyond the castle's perimeter. The vast, rocky titans loomed over the surface of the world like ancient guardians, and far below their crumbling earthen feet lie a lush forest that poured over the edge of the world. Aledai came to in an open field on the other side of the portal. She had never been to these reaches of Iirdenfel before and she immediately longed to have her mother back at her side. Instinctively, she drew a circle in the dirt, for protection, followed by runes as she chanted her incantation.
Nothing came, but a gust of wind that whipped her fair hair into her eyes. She sighed and repeated the spell's incantation but to no avail.
Perhaps, I've forgotten it, she thought to herself. There is one I will never forget. I pray it works. She shuffled her foot around in the dirt until the original runes were completely erased and drew in three new runes.
Then she whispered the incantation and again, nothing came. This was the first spell that all novice magi were required to learn back in Farendale. It was the the spell that determined whether one could do magic or not.
Aledai fell to her knees sobbing. It seemed for her, it was the latter. In stepping through the portal, Aledai had appeared in the human-inhabited reaches of Iirdenfel, where all magic is neutralized.
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The Crystal Thief
FantasyAledai, a half-elf and outcast in Farendale steals the Lunar Crystal in an attempt to escape the cruel world of her upbringing. Now, she's on the run from the dryads who must get it back before nightfall, when their ages-old ritual will begin. The s...