The world was quiet. Still. There was no sound, no sensation. Only an overwhelming sense of weightlessness, as though Lily was suspended in an endless void, unable to remember where she had come from or where she was going. The last thing she remembered was the screech of tires, the sharp pain in her chest, and then… nothing.
But now, she could feel something. A warmth. A pull. It wasn't familiar, yet it was comforting—inviting, almost. Slowly, like waking from a deep sleep, her eyes fluttered open, and the world around her came into focus.
She gasped.
Before her lay a vast expanse of verdant green fields, rolling hills dotted with flowers of every shade imaginable. The sky was an unreal, crystal blue, stretching far beyond what her eyes could comprehend. There were no buildings, no cars, no signs of modern life—only the untouched beauty of nature. In the distance, towering mountains loomed like silent guardians of this mysterious land.
She blinked, still unsure if this was real, if she had somehow fallen into some strange dream or illusion. But when she lifted her hand, her fingers trembling as they reached toward the sky, she could feel the gentle breeze brushing against her skin, the soft pulse of life beneath her fingertips.
Her heart raced as the memories began to flood back—memories of her life as a university student, the friends she had left behind, the ambitions she had once carried. And then the memory of the accident—the crash.
Was she dead?
No. That couldn't be it. She was… alive.
Lily's breath caught in her throat as she looked down at herself. Her body was different. She was no longer wearing the clothes she had died in, but instead a simple, flowing tunic of light fabric that fluttered in the wind. Her hair, once a plain and unruly mass of brown, now cascaded down her back in soft waves of deep auburn, glistening as though it held its own light.
She reached for her chest and felt a strange energy pulse within her, a quiet hum that resonated with her very being. Magic? Her mind screamed, but there was no fear. Instead, there was an overwhelming sense of… connection. Like she was meant to be here, meant to experience this new life.
But how?
Before she could fully process what was happening, a voice broke through the silence—a soft, melodic voice, filled with both strength and sadness.
"Are you awake?" it asked, gently.
Lily turned, her eyes falling on a figure standing several paces away. A woman. She was tall and graceful, with a presence that seemed to fill the space around her. Her long, jet-black hair flowed like silk, and her green eyes were intense, searching, and filled with something Lily couldn't quite place. The woman's gaze held her captive, though Lily wasn't sure why.
"I—" Lily began, her voice shaky. "Where am I?"
The woman studied her for a moment, her lips slightly pursed, before she stepped closer, her expression softening. "You're in Aeloria," she said, her voice as rich and warm as honey. "This is a world of magic. And you, Lily, have been chosen."
"Chosen?" Lily repeated, her heart beginning to race again. "What do you mean? How am I—"
"Relax," the woman interrupted, her smile gentle but knowing. "I know it's a lot to take in. I'm Selena. I'll explain everything, but first… you need to understand. You're no longer the person you were before. This world is yours now. And your journey is about to begin."
Lily's eyes widened. "Journey?"
Selena nodded. "Yes. The world is full of dangers, mysteries, and secrets. And you…" She paused, her gaze intensifying. "You have a gift. A magic that only few possess. You'll need it if you're to survive, but it also means something more. Something that has yet to unfold."
Lily's thoughts swirled, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Her life had ended in the blink of an eye, but now, in this new world, it seemed like she had been given a chance—an opportunity to start again. But why? What was her purpose here?
"You're not alone in this," Selena continued, stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You'll need to learn how to harness your magic, how to connect with the spirits of the elements. And perhaps, along the way… you'll discover something about yourself. About your heart."
Lily glanced at her, confusion and fear still clouding her mind. But beneath that, something else stirred—a deep curiosity, a sense of wonder. And something more, something she couldn't quite name yet, that made her feel inexplicably drawn to Selena.
The woman's voice softened, almost imperceptibly. "Don't worry, Lily. This world has its own way of showing us what we need to find… if we're brave enough to seek it."
And in that moment, as the sun began to set behind the mountains, painting the sky in hues of violet and gold, Lily felt something shift within her. A promise. A destiny.
Her journey was only just beginning.