Mystical forest

After Vanessa left, Jædana turned to Elianora with a curious expression. "Why was Vanessa speaking in such a shaky voice? What happened?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. Elianora shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I'm not sure! Maybe Sirius is more injured than we thought. That's why she's so nervous." She gazed up at the sky, her thoughts drifting to Crown Prince Kaidën and Prince Uriel, wondering when they would return.

Jædana nodded enthusiastically, playing with her bangles as she walked alongside Elianora. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I can hardly wait to see Prince Uriel again." Then, a thoughtful expression crossed her face, and she turned to Elianora with a serious look. "Don't you ever feel like we'll change completely when we go to the city?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Elianora looked at her curiously, wondering what had brought on this line of questioning. "What do you mean?" she asked, furrowing her brow. Jædana made a face, her eyes sparkling with concern. "Well, living here, our lives are simple. We're free to roam the countryside, to explore the Crystel River banks, and to enjoy the beauty of nature. But after we move to the palace, we'll be...well, to be queens, of sorts," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elianora consoled her, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "No, I don't think that will happen. Everything will be fine, Jæ. Don't worry," she said, using the nickname she had given Jædana. Jædana looked uncertain, but Elianora's words seemed to comfort her. "Really?" she asked, seeking reassurance. Elianora nodded firmly. "Yes! We'll still be the same people, no matter where we live. Our hearts and minds will remain the same."

After consoling Jædana, Elianora returned home, but the thought lingered in her mind. Would they truly be able to adapt to their new lives in the palace, or would they lose themselves in the process? She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment. But the uncertainty remained, a nagging feeling that she couldn't shake.

To clear her doubts, Elianora stepped out of her room and into the adjacent chamber, where her grandfather, Derek, sat engrossed in calculations. The warm glow of the setting sun cast a golden light upon his face, illuminating the deep lines etched into his skin. His eyes, a piercing shade of blue, sparkled with warmth as he looked up and caught her gaze. As he heard her approach, he smiled, and a gentle crease formed on his cheek.

"Come, my child," he said, beckoning her closer. "I was about to ask Nehal to call you. It's been far too long since we last spoke." Elianora's thoughts drifted to her cousin, Nehal, and their complicated past. She had always sensed a hint of jealousy emanating from Nehal, particularly when Crown Prince Kaidën had shown her attention. Elianora pushed the memories aside and sat beside her grandfather, seeking his wisdom.

"Grandpa," she began, using the affectionate term that always brought a smile to his face. "Will we change after moving to the palace? Will we not be the same person as before?" Derek's face creased into a warm smile as he listened to her concerns. He gently caressed her head, offering words of comfort.

"It's not quite like that, my child," he explained, his voice low and soothing. "But it is true that when we venture into a new environment, a new aspect of ourselves emerges. A new place can bestow upon us a new identity. Think of it as a transformation, like the blooming of a flower. We remain the same at our core, but our experiences and surroundings shape us into something new and beautiful."

Elianora sat in contemplative silence for a moment, absorbing her grandfather's words. She then rose and returned to her room, her gaze drifting toward the window as she stood before it, lost in thought. The forest beckoned, its secrets whispering on the wind. A single phrase echoed in her mind: "A new place gives us a new identity."

As she stood there, Elianora's fingers instinctively rose to caress the infinity tattoo on her right wrist, a symbol of her past life as Lyra in the year 2023. She had traveled 2,500 years into the past, leaving behind the world she knew. Her identity, her existence, had undergone a profound transformation.

A newfound sense of wonder washed over her as she gazed out at the Tenebrous, a mystical realm that existed within the heart of Mayavan. The secrets hidden within its depths beckoned, and Elianora felt an insatiable longing to explore, to uncover the mysteries that lay hidden beneath the surface of this enchanted land. The Tenebrous, with its dark, whispering forests and ancient magic, seemed to be calling to her, drawing her in with an otherworldly allure.