The fog thickened as Ava stepped into the night. The air was alive with anticipation, and for the first time since arriving at the manor, she felt the weight of her lineage pressing down on her. She glanced back at Lord Alexander, who stood in the doorway, his eyes darker now, filled with an urgency that both frightened and intrigued her.
"What is this about?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander's gaze flickered toward the distant forest, where the towering trees appeared to sway as though they were alive. His expression was one of quiet desperation, as though he was struggling to hold back a storm.
"It's not safe here," he said finally, his voice low and commanding. "You don't know what's coming, Ava. But I do."
Ava's heart raced, but a strange, unexplainable sense of calm washed over her. It was as if his words were pulling her deeper into something much larger than herself.
"We need to go to the heart of the forest," he continued, his hand gently gripping hers, guiding her away from the manor. "There's a place where the old magic resides. A place that holds the answers to everything—answers to your past, your future... and your sister."
Her pulse quickened at the mention of her sister. The prophecy she had received earlier echoed in her mind, taunting her with its cryptic message. Under the moon, by the ancient stone, you will find your sister. Your destiny awaits.
But what was her destiny? And why did Lord Alexander look so deeply troubled? She had never met him before, yet there was a connection—something magnetic, something undeniable between them.
As they walked through the dense trees, the fog wrapped around them like a thick blanket. The moon was high in the sky, its silvery light filtering through the branches, casting an eerie glow over the forest floor. Ava's thoughts raced, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of the centuries-old secrets buried within the land.
"Do you know what the prophecy means?" she asked, her voice shaky as she fought to keep her nerves under control.
Alexander looked at her, his jaw tense. "I do," he said quietly. "But it's not something I can explain easily. The magic that binds you and your sister is older than time itself. It's a force that cannot be ignored. And it's a force that Mordana, the dark sorceress, has been trying to control for centuries."
Ava stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. "Mordana?" she repeated, the name sounding foreign, yet familiar.
Alexander nodded, his expression grim. "She's been hunting for the two of you since your birth. The prophecy was set into motion the moment you and your sister were born. She believes that if she can bind your magic, she can control the world itself. But the cost..." His voice trailed off.
Ava shuddered at the thought of Mordana's power. The name alone sent chills down her spine, but something deep inside her urged her forward. She couldn't turn back now. Not when the answers she had been seeking her whole life were within reach.
They reached a clearing, and in the center stood an ancient stone—tall, weathered, and covered in intricate runes that seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. Ava stepped forward, her fingers brushing the surface of the stone. The moment she touched it, a surge of energy shot through her, and a vision flashed before her eyes.
She saw a woman—her sister, Aurora—standing in a darkened room, her eyes filled with fear. A shadow loomed over her, a figure cloaked in darkness. And then, the vision shifted, showing a vast, burning landscape where the sky was torn asunder, and the earth itself seemed to tremble.
"Ava..." the vision whispered, a soft voice echoing in her mind. "Find me. You have to find me."
Ava gasped, pulling her hand away from the stone. Her breath was shallow, her heart pounding in her chest. The vision had been so real—so vivid.
"What was that?" she asked, looking at Alexander in confusion.
"That," he said softly, "was a glimpse of your future. A glimpse of the battle that lies ahead. Mordana is closer than you think. And time is running out."
Ava swallowed hard, her mind spinning. The weight of the prophecy pressed heavily on her, but for the first time, she felt a surge of determination. She didn't know what her role in this battle would be, but she knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going to let her sister—or the world—fall into darkness.
"I won't let her win," she whispered, more to herself than to Alexander.
He nodded, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "We'll fight together," he said. "But first, we need to find your sister. She's the key to everything."
The night stretched on, and as Ava and Alexander turned to leave the clearing, the wind picked up, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of something ancient—and something deadly.
The hunt for Aurora had begun.