Episode 1

In the sleepy village of Halewick, where the cobblestone streets seemed frozen in time, there lived a girl named Mira. Mira was an introvert to her core, finding comfort in solitude and the whispered pages of old novels. Her favorite place in the world was her attic room, which had a single skylight offering a perfect view of the stars.

Halewick was quiet, almost too quiet, with one peculiar tradition: every house had a brass mailbox mounted near the door, but no one ever saw the postman. Letters arrived in the dead of night, as if carried by shadows themselves. The villagers called them the “Midnight Letters.” Some said they were meant to bring good fortune; others whispered of curses.

Mira had never received one, not until a cold autumn night.

She was curled up in her armchair, a blanket draped over her shoulders, when she heard the soft metallic clink of her mailbox. She froze. No one in the village received letters every day, let alone someone as reclusive as Mira.

Curiosity tugged at her until she crept downstairs. Opening the mailbox, she found a single envelope—thick parchment sealed with a red wax crest in the shape of a crescent moon. Her name was written in an elegant hand: Mira Westhaven.

Inside was a single line:

“Meet me at the ruins when the clock strikes twelve.”

The ruins were a crumbled stone structure deep in the woods—a place most villagers avoided, believing it haunted. Mira’s heart raced as she read the note over and over. It wasn’t like her to venture out, let alone in the middle of the night, but something about the letter stirred a strange longing within her.

When midnight came, Mira slipped on her boots and coat, clutching a lantern as she ventured into the forest. The path was quiet except for the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. As she approached the ruins, the air grew colder, and the faint scent of lavender drifted on the breeze.

In the center of the ruins stood a figure cloaked in black. Their face was hidden by a hood, but Mira could tell they were holding something—a pocket watch, its golden surface glinting faintly in the moonlight.

“You came,” the figure said, their voice soft and melodic.

“Who are you?” Mira asked, gripping her lantern tighter.The figure lowered the watch, and the hood slipped back just enough to reveal piercing violet eyes. “A messenger,” they replied. “And you, Mira, are the key to breaking an ancient curse.”

Mira blinked, her thoughts spinning. “Me? You must have the wrong person. I’m just… ordinary.”

The figure smiled faintly, their expression unreadable. “Ordinary people often hold the greatest power. Will you listen to the story I’ve come to tell?”

Against every instinct to retreat to her safe attic, Mira nodded. As the figure spoke, weaving tales of a forgotten kingdom, a hidden relic, and a terrible wrong that needed to be righted, Mira realized her quiet life was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.

And for the first time, she didn’t feel afraid—she felt alive. The figure continued, their voice like a melody that danced through the ruins.

“Centuries ago, Halewick wasn’t just a village—it was the heart of a kingdom ruled by a kind but naive queen. Her closest advisor betrayed her, casting a spell to shatter time itself, binding the kingdom to an endless loop of decay and silence. That spell created the Midnight Letters, seeking someone pure of heart and mind who could undo the curse. And now, Mira, they’ve found you.”

Mira shook her head, clutching the lantern tightly. “There must be some mistake. I’m just… I’m no one special.”

The figure stepped closer, their violet eyes shimmering in the dark. “You see yourself as ordinary, but the letters don’t lie. Your ability to find beauty in solitude, to see beyond what others ignore—that is what makes you unique. The key to breaking the curse is hidden in the past, and only someone with your gift can find it.”

“What happens if I don’t?” Mira asked, her voice trembling.

The figure’s expression turned solemn. “Then Halewick—and all the souls trapped in its shadow—will remain frozen forever, reliving the same days in silence until the end of time.”

Mira stared at them, her thoughts swirling like a storm. This was impossible. A curse? A broken kingdom? She was just a quiet girl with a love for books and stars. Yet something deep within her stirred—a faint hum, like a forgotten memory trying to surface.

What… what do I have to do?” she asked finally.

The figure held out the pocket watch. “This watch will guide you to the past. You must find the queen and give her this before the betrayal occurs. It’s not just an object—it’s a fragment of her own essence, stolen during the spell. Once it’s returned, the curse will unravel.”

Mira hesitated, her fingers brushing the cold metal of the watch. “How will I find her?”

“The watch will lead you, but the path won’t be easy. Time will test you, showing you things that may frighten or tempt you to turn back. But you mustn’t waver.”

Mira took a deep breath, her pulse racing. “And if I fail?”

The figure’s voice grew softer. “Then Halewick will be lost forever. But I don’t believe you will fail, Mira. You were chosen for a reason.”As soon as her fingers wrapped around the watch, a golden light enveloped her. The ruins dissolved, replaced by a grand hall filled with warmth and laughter. People in elegant gowns danced to lively music, and the air smelled of roses and honey.

Mira’s breath caught. This was the kingdom, alive and whole. But in the distance, she saw a figure lurking in the shadows—a man with a crooked smile and a glint of betrayal in his eyes.

The queen stood nearby, her crown glimmering in the light. She was smiling, unaware of the danger looming behind her.

Mira’s grip tightened on the watch. The weight of her task was heavier than she could have imagined, but as she stepped forward, she felt a spark of determination. She had been chosen for a reason, and she wouldn’t let Halewick remain a prisoner of time.

This was her moment to rewrite history.

And she wouldn’t let it slip away.

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