Chapter 1: Through the mirror

A soft glow illuminated the room as Seraphina Elysia Vale sat before her vanity, meticulously applying the final touches of her makeup. The brush glided across her skin, painting her reflection with hues of confidence and poise. Yet, beneath the surface, a flicker of unease danced in her eyes—a feeling she couldn’t quite place.

She leaned closer to the mirror, her breath fogging the glass as she scrutinized her work. The world outside her window was quiet, the city’s hum distant and faint. Everything seemed perfectly normal, perfectly routine.

But tonight felt different.

As she reached for the lipstick, a sudden chill swept through the room, making her shiver. The light in her bedroom dimmed, and the mirror before her began to ripple like the surface of a disturbed pond. She froze, her hand suspended in mid-air, watching in stunned silence as the reflection in the glass twisted and warped.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, the world around her dissolved into darkness. She felt a strange pull, as if something was drawing her into the mirror itself. Panic surged through her, but it was too late to resist. The room, her reflection, her very being—everything was swallowed by the void.

When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in her bedroom. The familiar surroundings had vanished, replaced by towering trees and a sky that shimmered with colors she had never seen before. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers and the sound of distant, unfamiliar creatures. She stood in the middle of an ancient forest, her heart racing as she took in the breathtaking, yet eerie, beauty of this new world.

She was lost—utterly and completely. But as the initial shock began to fade, a sense of wonder and curiosity took its place. Wherever she was, it was far from the life she knew. And there was no turning back.

She stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat, her mind racing to make sense of the impossible. The vibrant, alien forest surrounded her, its towering trees and thick underbrush casting shadows that seemed to pulse with hidden life.

Her heart pounded, the echoes of distant animal cries chilling her to the bone.Before she could move or even think, something heavy thudded to the ground in front of her. Startled, she looked down to see her makeup pouch—her lifeline as a beauty influencer—sprawled open on the forest floor. It was no ordinary pouch; it was a treasure trove of tools and products, meticulously organized with everything she needed for her daily craft. Foundations, palettes, mascaras, eyeliners, brushes of every kind—her entire professional kit, the arsenal that had once made her a star in the modern world, now lay scattered among the wildflowers and moss.

The sight of it was both grounding and surreal, a small fragment of her old life in this bewildering new reality. She dropped to her knees, desperately gathering the scattered items, as if holding onto them could somehow anchor her to something familiar, something safe. But the forest was anything but safe. The sounds of distant creatures grew louder, more menacing, and the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs set her nerves on edge.

Her hands trembled as she clutched the pouch to her chest, eyes darting around the unfamiliar terrain. She could barely breathe, her fear tightening like a vice. What is this place? How did I get here? The questions looped through her mind, but there were no answers, only the oppressive silence and the looming shadows.

And then she heard it—a rustling in the bushes to her right, the sound of something moving through the undergrowth. Her heart leapt into her throat, terror seizing her body. This is it, she thought, her mind spiraling into panic. I’m going to die here. I’m going to die in this strange, terrifying place.She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst, expecting a wild animal to lunge at her from the shadows. But instead of the savage growl she feared, there was a voice—a deep, steady voice, calling out.

"Who goes there?"

Her eyes flew open, and she gasped. Stepping out from the tall bushes was a man, clad in a knightly costume, his armor gleaming in the soft light filtering through the trees. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a commanding presence that immediately caught her off guard. His hand rested on the hilt of a sword at his side, but his expression was one of surprise rather than aggression.

Behind him, two more men emerged, dressed similarly but carrying bows and quivers of arrows. They appeared to be hunters, their attire rugged and practical, their faces smudged with dirt and sweat. They seemed to have been tracking something—perhaps the distant animal sounds that had so frightened her. One of them called out to the knight, “Did you see the rabbit?” But his words trailed off as he too caught sight of her.

The men stopped in their tracks, staring at her as if she were a ghost, their eyes wide with astonishment. They exchanged confused glances, clearly puzzled by her presence. After all, this was no ordinary forest—this was a place of magic and danger, a place where only the strongest, most skilled knights dared to tread.

For a moment, the world stood still. She and the men locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them:

this was not where she belonged.

And yet, here she was.The knight, recovering from his shock, took a step forward, his voice softening as he spoke. “Miss, are you… lost?”The question was so simple, yet it unraveled her. Lost didn’t begin to describe how she felt. She was adrift in a world she didn’t understand, with no idea how she had arrived or how she would survive. All she could do was nod, her voice caught in her throat.

The knight’s gaze softened with sympathy, and he extended his hand. “Come with us. We’ll keep you safe.” And for the first time since she had been thrust into this strange new world, she felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps she wasn’t entirely alone after all.

As they made their way through the dense forest, the trees began to thin, revealing a large clearing where the knights had set up camp. The sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene. The camp was bustling with activity—knights, both men and women, were scattered around, some tending to a fire, others sharpening their weapons, and a few preparing the evening meal. The aroma of roasting meat filled the air, mingling with the scent of pine and earth.

As the hunting party approached, a few of the knights looked up from their tasks. One of the female knights, her auburn hair tied back in a loose braid, called out with a grin, “Did you catch dinner, then? We’re starving!”

One of the hunters, a tall man with a grizzled beard, chuckled as he dropped a small bundle of game by the fire. “Aye, we caught a few deer and some rabbits,” he replied, “but we also found something… unexpected.”

The knights exchanged curious glances. “Unexpected?” one of the women asked, arching an eyebrow. “What could possibly be unexpected in these woods?”

The lead knight, who had discovered the woman in the forest, stepped forward, gently guiding the young woman into the light of the campfire. The flickering flames illuminated her face, highlighting her flawless makeup and the soft waves of her hair, still perfectly styled from her earlier preparations. She stood out like a jewel among the rough-hewn warriors, her modern, elegant dress strikingly out of place in this medieval world.

As the knights’ eyes fell upon her, a collective murmur of astonishment rippled through the camp. They took in her appearance—her clean, form-fitting dress, her bare legs, her smooth, glowing skin. To them, she looked as if she had stepped out of a dream, or perhaps a vision from a distant, unknown land.

One of the knights, a woman with sharp eyes and an inquisitive nature, leaned in, her gaze raking over the newcomer. “Is she… is she wearing her undergarments?” she whispered to another knight, her tone a mix of confusion and disbelief.

The young woman, aware of the stares and the hushed whispers, lifted her chin, her expression calm and composed. Despite the bizarre situation, she knew how to carry herself with confidence. After all, in her world, she was a public figure, accustomed to attention—though this was a far cry from the adoring followers she was used to.

The knight who had found her, sensing the unease, stepped forward to address the group. “We found her alone in the forest,” he explained, his voice steady. “She seems to be lost and… well, as you can see, she’s dressed in a manner unfamiliar to us.”

The female knights exchanged puzzled glances, clearly trying to make sense of this strange woman in their midst. Her beauty was undeniable, almost otherworldly, and yet her attire baffled them. It was unlike anything they had ever seen—far too short and delicate, with intricate details that spoke of a craftsmanship they didn’t recognize.

One of the older knights, a woman with a kind face and silver streaks in her hair, stepped forward, her voice gentle. “Are you hungry, child? You must be after wandering the forest. How did you come to be here?”

The young woman hesitated for a moment, then found her voice. She wasn’t one to be easily intimidated, even in such an extraordinary situation. She nodded graciously and spoke with the same poise she used in her professional life. “I’m not sure how I got here,” she began, her voice calm despite the fluttering anxiety in her chest. “One moment I was in my room, and the next… I was in that forest. I can’t explain it, but I’m very grateful that you found me. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t.”

Her words were carefully chosen, each one delivered with a grace that belied the turmoil inside her. The knights listened intently, noting her refined speech and the way she carried herself with such dignity, even in the midst of chaos.

One of the younger knights, a man with keen eyes and a curious nature, suddenly blurted out, “You speak like a noblewoman. Are you of noble birth?”

The young woman paused, considering the question. She knew she needed to tread carefully—she had no idea how these people would react to the truth, or if they would even believe her. Finally, she offered a small, enigmatic smile. “In a way, I suppose you could say that,” she replied, leaving the details deliberately vague.

The knights exchanged more glances, this time with a hint of respect mingled with their curiosity. Whoever she was, she clearly wasn’t just an ordinary woman.

As the camp settled into the evening, with the sun dipping below the horizon and the fire casting warm, dancing shadows, the knights began to accept her presence. They offered her food and a place to rest, their initial surprise giving way to a cautious hospitality. And though she remained a mystery to them, her beauty, poise, and the strange circumstances of her arrival left them both intrigued and captivated.

For the young woman, this was only the beginning of a journey she could never have imagined. And though she had no idea what lay ahead, she knew one thing for certain—she would face it with the same confidence and determination that had carried her through every challenge before.

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