chapter 1

**Deep in the heart of a forgotten land, there was a forest that whispered secrets only at midnight**.

A curious girl named Enos Azerial had always been drawn to its mysteries. One night, when she heard her name carried on the wind through the trees, she could no longer resist. With hesitant steps and a heart full of questions, she followed the voice deep into the forest.

The trees grew denser as she walked, their ancient trunks twisted with time. Eventually, Enos came upon a silent, glassy lake, perfectly still and glowing faintly under the moonlight.

Its waters were so clear they mirrored the sky above. Beneath the surface, she saw a stunning fish with glimmering scales that shimmered like starlight. Spellbound, she knelt down to touch it.

The moment her fingers met the surface, the ground beneath her shifted. She slipped and fell into the icy water. Darkness closed in, and her consciousness faded into the depths.

When she awoke, she found herself lying on soft moss beneath a dome of glowing crystals. The air was filled with floating lanterns, and luminous vines trailed along the curved walls. Ethereal music drifted through the space, gentle as a lullaby.

Disoriented and afraid, Enos sat up quickly. “What...?” she whispered, her voice unsteady. She looked around frantically until a calm, deep voice echoed through the cavern.

She turned to find a tall figure approaching—a male elf with long, silver hair that fell past his shoulders and eyes that shimmered like molten gold. He was dressed in robes that rippled like liquid starlight, and an aura of quiet power surrounded him.

“Do not be afraid,” he said, his voice like wind through leaves. “You were chosen by the Lake of Glass. Only those with a forgotten destiny may enter the Realm of Echo.”

Enos stared at him in disbelief. “Please… can you explain it? I just... don’t understand anything. Who are you? Where am I?”

The elf knelt beside her, his gaze kind. “I am Kaelen of the Echo Court, guardian of this realm,” he replied gently. “You are in a place that exists between memory and time—a sanctuary for truths that have been buried, even from their own bearers.”

Enos shook her head slowly. “But I’m just an ordinary girl…”

Kaelen’s lips curved into a faint smile. “No, Enos Azerial. You are anything but ordinary. The lake called to you because a part of your past—your true past—was lost. And now, this realm has opened to help you find it again.”

As he spoke, the cavern shimmered with soft light, and a distant bell echoed faintly, like a heartbeat in the air. Rising to his feet, Kaelen extended a hand toward her once more.

“Come. The forest may have whispered, but now the truth is ready to speak.

She hesitantly reached for his extended hand, her fingers brushing against his with uncertainty. The moment their hands touched, a gentle warmth flowed through her, like sunlight piercing through mist.

Kaelen led her across a bridge of woven light that formed beneath their feet with every step. The cavern around them seemed to shift and breathe, alive with silent stories waiting to be awakened.

“So… what should I do?” Enos asked, her voice small, yet steady.

Kaelen glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. “You must reclaim the fragments of your forgotten self. They are scattered across this realm—locked within echoes, hidden behind illusions, and guarded by memories you once tried to leave behind.”

Enos furrowed her brow. “Why would I forget who I am?”

Kaelen’s golden eyes darkened slightly. “Because pain can bury truth. And the deeper the hurt, the harder it is to remember. But without your whole self, this world—and perhaps your own—may never heal.”

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