The Unseen Bridge

The palace grew quieter as dusk settled over the kingdom. Selena, now familiar with her daily routines as Princess Helena, still felt like a stranger in this time. Despite her growing rapport with Lady Elara and the courtiers, the nagging sense of displacement never left her heart. She wandered through the halls, her fingers brushing against the cold stone walls, trying to find solace in the past while yearning for the present.

Selena knew she couldn't remain passive. If there was a way back, she had to find it herself. The ring, glowing faintly on her finger, was the only tangible link to her own time. Yet it provided no clear answers. Could it be that the ring wasn't just a key but part of something larger something she hadn't yet discovered?

Determined, she decided to search the royal archives, a place she had learned about from Lady Elara. The archives were rumored to hold ancient texts about the kingdom's history and relics, including the origin of the ring.

***

In the Present

Alexander sat cross-legged on the floor of Professor Alden's study, a circle of candles flickering around him. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. In front of him lay a small bowl filled with water and a single red thread a symbol of the twin flame bond.

"Close your eyes, Alexander," Alden instructed. "Focus on your connection with Selena. Picture her in your mind. Feel her presence."

Alexander obeyed, his mind conjuring an image of Selena's face, her soft smile, and the warmth he always felt around her. He could almost hear her voice, calling his name. His heart ached with longing, but he didn't let it distract him. Instead, he focused on the love they shared, the bond that had endured through time.

"Now," Alden continued, "imagine a bridge forming between you. A bridge built not from stone but from the essence of your connection.

Let it guide you to her."

Alexander's breathing slowed as he envisioned the bridge ethereal, glowing faintly with golden light, stretching out into the unknown. He felt a pull, as if something beyond his understanding was responding. The red thread in the bowl began to shimmer faintly, and a soft ripple spread across the water's surface.

For a moment, Alexander thought he saw Selena standing alone in a vast garden, her eyes searching for something unseen.

***

In the Past

Selena stood in the dimly lit archives, her hands carefully turning the brittle pages of an ancient tome. She had been searching for hours but had yet to find anything directly referencing the ring. Most of the texts spoke in riddles or vague metaphors, making it difficult to decipher their true meaning.

Just as she was about to give up, her eyes caught a passage in an old manuscript:

"The ring of twin flames binds souls across realms. Only through the bridge of remembrance can they be reunited, but the bridge must be built by both hearts, guided by the flame of destiny."

Selena's heart pounded. A bridge of bridge of remembrance? Was this what Alexander was trying to do? Could he be reaching out to her even now? She closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth she had felt earlier, the fleeting sensation of Alexander's presence.

Suddenly, she felt a shift in the air around her. The ring on her finger grew warmer, pulsing faintly with light. She opened her eyes and gasped before her, faint and shimmering, was an ethereal bridge, glowing with golden light, stretching into the unknown.

***

In the Present

Alexander's eyes flew open as he felt a surge of energy. The candles flickered violently, and the red thread in the bowl vanished, replaced by a soft golden glow in the water. He knew something had changed he had reached her, if only for a moment.

"She felt it," Alexander whispered, his voice filled with awe. "Selena felt me."

Professor Alden smiled faintly. "You've made the first connection, but this is only the beginning. To truly bring her back, the bridge must be strengthened. Both of you must walk it together."

***

Back in the Past

Selena stood at the edge of the shimmering bridge, her heart racing with a mix of hope and fear. Was this the way back to Alexander? She didn't know if it would work, but she knew one thing she had to try.

Before she could take a step, however, a voice called out behind her.

"Princess Helena, what are you doing here?"

Selena turned to see Lord Alaric standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the glowing bridge.

"What… is that?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Selena's mind raced. She couldn't let anyone interfere. If this was her only chance to return to her time, she had to take it.

"It's nothing," she said quickly, trying to block his view. "Just… an old relic."

But Lord Alaric wasn't convinced. He moved closer, his gaze fixed on the bridge. "That's not just any relic, is it? Tell me, Princess, what are you hiding?"

Selena knew she was running out of time. She had to act fast. Gathering her courage, she took a deep breath and stepped onto the bridge.

As soon as her foot touched the glowing path, a surge of energy enveloped her, and the world around her began to blur. She heard Lord Alaric shout something, but his voice grew distant, fading into nothingness.