Enchanted Echoes

The sound of birds singing mixed with the sound of a flowing river intensifies further out into the huge forest. The river's surface reflects the surrounding forest with its warm blue glow. The reflections melt away from fish disturbing the water leaving ripples in its place. Standing strong across the water stands a bridge. It's a stone bridge that looks like people tend to travel across. The bridge has a weird pattern going across it. It looks as though it was held still in time. Old, but never aging. Each stone held together with magic.

In that moment the sound of hooves striking the earth mixed with the creaking and jingling of a wagon silenced a small area of the forest. Out from the shadows came a small horse drawn wagon pulled by a big grayish-white horse. The wagon rushed into the small clearing towards the stone bridge. After the wagon passed over the bridge the air above started to crackle. The crackling air started sparking a bright blue color before an arc of energy struck the bridge. The bright blue glow seemed to hang in mid air. The wagon came to a stop with a man stepping out. The man was an older man with brown hair and a short beard. He wore a long white coat with a hood. The coat was adorned with gold and red detailing. The sky slowly drained in color with dark heavy storm clouds forming. The clouds glowed with energy running through it. The crackling air got louder, with the rolling of thunder in the distance disturbing the forest. The man scowled, as if he was preparing for the worst. The bridge that the wagon had crossed just a minute ago was now starting to glow as if it had its own energy. It now glowed with a bright blue energy throughout the pattern that ran across making it stand out more than anything around the clearing. With a deafening roar, the storm clouds burst, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning that targeted the bridge with pinpoint accuracy. The crackling energy surged through the structure, illuminating the surroundings in a blinding flash. As quickly as it came, the tempest dispersed, leaving the bridge standing defiantly, seemingly untouched by the powerful force of nature.

Undeterred by the display of elemental fury, the man ascended the bridge, his footsteps echoing against the now calm surroundings. There, lying unresponsive, was a young girl. Concern etched on his face, the man approached her, deciding to offer assistance and ensure her well-being in the aftermath of the storm.

Becky awoke, initially believing she had escaped her dream, only to be greeted by the sound of bustling activity. As her senses adjusted, she realized she was aboard a wagon, gliding through a vibrant forest untouched by the shroud of fog. Across from her sat a man, his countenance a blend of bewilderment and elation. Becky's heart raced as she turned to the man, her voice trembling with urgency. "Where am I? How did I get here?"

The man's reply was concise. "I found you unconscious and decided to pick you up."

"But how did I end up in this forest?" she pressed further, her bewilderment palpable.

"Well, I don't have that information," the man replied calmly, his voice steady. "But how about this? Why don't you tell me where you're from, and we can try to figure out how far it is from here. How does that sound?"

Becky hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice uncertain. "I'm from Glowhaven, it's not very well-known. Do you think it's far from here?"

The man's confidence wavered slightly as he replied, "Honestly, I've never heard of Glowhaven before, and I've traveled extensively through this land. But why don't we head to the nearest town? They usually have a lot of travelers passing through, and we can ask around there."

"Okay, but I hope I'm not imposing on you by asking for your help," Becky said, concern lacing her words.

The man reassured her, "No, it's not a problem at all. I was actually planning to visit a friend in that direction anyway."

"If you don't mind, you never told me your name," Becky spoke, her voice grateful. "My name is Becky, and thank you for helping me."

The man, now revealed as Zephyr, responded with a warm, cheerful tone. "My pleasure, Becky. And like I mentioned earlier, it's no trouble at all, especially since my journey has been rather uneventful until now."

As Becky gazed out of the wagon, she was met with a landscape straight out of a fantastical dream. Magnificent waterfalls cascaded from shimmering cliffs, painting the world with a breathtaking array of colors. The trees, vibrant in shades of bright and dark greens, swayed gently in the cool wind. For a fleeting moment, Becky's racing heart slowed to a tranquil rhythm as she took in the beauty around her. But soon, her tranquility gave way to a renewed sense of urgency as the reality of her situation set in—she had no idea of her whereabouts or how to find her way back home.

As Zephyr stared off into space or occasionally glanced out the window, Becky was left to her own thoughts. She couldn't help but worry. She didn't know where she was or how to get home. She didn't even know who was sitting next to her. Becky had to put her faith in a stranger who didn't know her and probably didn't care what happened to her as long as it was convenient for him.

Every passing second felt like five to her, and every minute stretched longer than it should have. Becky felt like everything was out of place, as if she shouldn't be where she was. Yet, she held onto the hope that by staying level-headed, she might find something or someone to answer her questions. Questions raced through her mind: How did I get here? Why am I here? How do I get back? But there were too many questions for one person to answer.

"Becky?" called out Zephyr, breaking her train of thought, saving her from her endless cycle of worry and panic.

"Ya?"said Becky, snapping back to the present to face him.

Zephyr looked at her almost skeptically before making his face look more confident. "I don't know where you're from, so tell me this. Are you with the Order of the Purified Realm? And if so, do you support them?"

"What's the Order of the Purified Realm?"

Ah, Well, let me tell you a bit about it. You see, magic used to be everything. It flowed through every aspect of life like a heartbeat. But then, things took a turn for the worse. The government became corrupt, tightening its grip. Trying to take power. People started turning away from magic, abandoning its practice and the beliefs that once held society together. And that's when the unraveling began. The new rulers twisted the image of The Founders of Magic, those revered figures who laid the foundation for everything we knew. They were banished to another world, cast out like criminals. With magic falling out of favor, schools changed their focus from learning magic, arenas of magic sat empty, and day-to-day life lost its spark. Those who still clung to magic became outcasts, seen as threats to the new order. Some were imprisoned, others executed. And then there were rumors of being banished to that other world, a fate worse than death, they said. They claimed you'd either lose your magic or be torn apart by the very fabric of reality itself. But despite the risks, there were those who refused to let magic die. They persisted, hidden away, practicing in secret. And now, there's this talk of someone named Ravus. He believes that by bringing people from that other world, with its untapped magic and knowledge, he can somehow fix our broken world. It's a risky gambit, but for him, it's a chance worth taking.