While Merslin and his team continued their exploration of the High Elf Forest, an unexpected signal flickered on his communication device. He rushed to check it—and a familiar voice came through, bringing a wave of relief.
"Merslin, do you hear me? It's Elena."
Merslin exhaled sharply, his worry easing. "Elena! Thank the gods you're safe. Is Serena alright?"
"Yes, she's fine. We were transported to the continent of Luminaria due to a waypoint malfunction. Things here are… a bit chaotic. Our master has summoned us."
Lisa, listening nearby, placed a hand on Merslin's shoulder. "I'm so glad they're safe. But it sounds like something serious is happening there too."
Elena continued, her voice calm yet urgent. "The influence of the ancient god is spreading again in the Luminaria Kingdom. Our master has given us a vital mission. While we work to resolve things here, please continue uncovering the secrets of the High Elf Forest. We'll reach out again once we find a way to return."
Merslin nodded. "Understood. We'll carry on here. Stay safe—both of you."
"Take care," Elena said gently. "We'll meet again soon."
As the transmission ended, Merslin turned to the rest of the group and relayed the message. Though they were relieved to hear that Elena and Serena were safe, knowing they were now entangled in another crisis only deepened their resolve.
"Our mission hasn't changed," Merslin declared. "We need to uncover the secrets of this forest before they return."
Lydia nodded in agreement. "Let's put our strength together and see this through."
Aria and Lisa exchanged determined glances. With renewed focus, the group pressed forward, their hearts united in purpose.
****
The Search for the Secrets of the High Elf Forest
While Elena and Serena pursued their mission in the Kingdom of Luminaria, Merslin's team continued their efforts to uncover the truth hidden within the High Elf Forest. Aria and Lydia took to the ancient library near the forest's edge, poring over texts and forgotten tomes. Meanwhile, Merslin and Lisa traveled through nearby villages, gathering oral legends passed down through generations.
Inside the dimly lit library, Aria flipped through a brittle page and suddenly paused. "I think I found something," she said, pointing to a passage. "This book talks about why the High Elves chose the Ancient Slumber. It wasn't just to escape war—they were following a prophecy."
Lydia leaned in, reading the ancient script. "It's possible that prophecy was passed to the Blood Elves as well. We need to look deeper into this. These writings might be the key."
Aria nodded, jotting down notes. "If this is accurate, then their slumber wasn't about fear—it was a calculated decision to prevent something far worse."
Together, they sifted through more texts, piecing together fragments of the elves' motives and the prophecy that guided them.
Meanwhile, Merslin and Lisa spoke with village elders, gathering stories about the forest's long-forgotten past. One elderly woman, her voice soft with age, shared an old tale.
"Our ancestors always said the High Elves didn't sleep just to avoid conflict. They followed a prophecy—one that warned of a great calamity. No one knows what the prophecy actually said, but they believed their only chance was to slumber through it."
Lisa leaned in, intrigued. "Have you heard anything more? Anything about what the prophecy warned of?"
The old woman paused, then said, "Only that it spoke of a disaster so great it would consume the land. The elves believed their sleep was the only way to preserve what they could."
Merslin bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you. This may be just what we needed to get closer to the truth."
Later, Merslin and Lisa returned to the library to share what they'd learned with Aria and Lydia. As they compared notes, a single conclusion emerged.
"It wasn't just war avoidance," Aria said. "The High Elves followed the prophecy in hopes of averting a greater catastrophe."
Lydia nodded firmly. "And it's possible that prophecy was shared with my people—the Blood Elves. If we can uncover its truth, we might unlock the forest's final secret."
Merslin's eyes burned with resolve. "Then that's our next goal: to uncover the prophecy. That's the real reason behind their slumber, and the final puzzle we must solve."
Lisa agreed, her voice steady. "If we can do that, we'll have everything ready for when Elena and Serena return. And maybe—just maybe—we'll be able to awaken what has long slept."
And so, Merslin and his allies set forth once again, piecing together the forgotten truth buried in prophecy. The puzzle was growing more complex, but with every step, they drew closer to the secret at the heart of the High Elf Forest.
****
The Enchanted Book of Wonderland and the Memories of the Past
Despite their relentless efforts—visiting countless libraries and speaking with villagers—Merslin and his companions were making slow progress. Tracing the mystery behind the High Elves' Ancient Slumber proved difficult; centuries of isolation had left few records behind, and even the legends were faint whispers.
In a dim corner of a library stacked with books, Merslin sat with his back against the wall, deep in thought. Lisa had dozed off from exhaustion, while Aria remained focused, reading through brittle documents. Every now and then, they glanced at Merslin, hearing him mumble softly to himself.
Then, a familiar presence stirred within him.
It was the Enchanted Book of Wonderland—a mysterious artifact that had once brought him into this world and, at another time, returned him to Earth. Quiet, yet undeniably real, the book's presence resonated deep within his mind.
"Merslin," the book spoke, its voice echoing in thought. "The closer you come to the truth, the more I can reveal. It's time I showed you something new—something important."
Closing his eyes, Merslin centered his thoughts and answered in silence."Another truth? What are you about to reveal this time?"
"This is from another timeline I've experienced," the book began. "In that world, war with the Shadow Kin was inevitable, and the High Elves chose the Ancient Slumber not to avoid battle—but to escape what was coming."
Merslin listened, curiosity sharpening.
"Their choice wasn't driven only by fear of conflict. They sensed a great calamity—an unknown force so overwhelming that they chose to remove themselves from time itself. The details remain unclear, but the danger was real, and it terrified them."
Merslin murmured aloud, as if thinking to himself, "Then why didn't they work with the me of that timeline?"
The book hesitated before responding.
"Perhaps... they had no choice. Perhaps they believed this was the only way to survive. In that time, no other option remained."
Merslin fell into a thoughtful silence, the weight of the knowledge pressing down on him. He knew he would have to face the High Elves with this information—armed not with proof, but with understanding.
Lydia approached, sensing the shift in his mood. "A magical reverie?" she asked gently.
Merslin nodded. "Yes. And now I need to figure out how to interpret what I've been shown. With no clear way to contact the High Elves, everything feels... distant."
Lydia paused before speaking, her voice thoughtful. "The Blood Elves are not without fault for the rift between our races. Perhaps it's time we take steps toward reconciliation. If I ever return to my homeland, I think we must prepare for a future built on cooperation."
Merslin nodded slowly. "You may be right. For now, we focus on solving this mystery together."
Lisa stirred, rubbing her eyes as she looked over. "Did we find anything new?"
With a small smile, Merslin turned to Lisa and Aria. "We're making progress—piece by piece. Let's keep searching through the records and legends. The answer is somewhere in all of this."
Aria gave a silent nod, while Lisa shook off her sleepiness and leaned back into the pages in front of her.
Merslin took a deep breath.He was ready to move forward—alongside his companions—toward the truth behind the High Elves' decision to sleep through the ages. A new chapter in their journey was about to begin.