Chapter 73: The Lost Kingdom

Third Person's POV

The morning of their departure arrived with a quiet intensity. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over the slowly recovering kingdom of Eldoria.

In the courtyard, supplies were packed, weapons secured, and final preparations made.

Selene stood at the steps of the castle ruins, surveying her companions. Axel adjusted the straps of his armor, Khael secured his maps and notes, and Tyra checked the weight of her broaded sword . The journey ahead would be long and uncertain, but they had made their choice.

Lira stood before them, her expression a mix of determination and concern. "Everything here is in place. I'll continue the research, ensure that no progress is lost in your absence."

Selene placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I trust you. Eldoria is in your hands until we return. If anything happens, send word."

The scholars and builders who had gathered to see them off exchanged glances, many offering silent nods of respect.

But among the crowd, a figure watched with narrowed eyes—Lord Valentine , the noble who had long sought to assert his influence. His lips curled into a forced smile as he stepped forward.

"A bold decision, Your Highness," Valdrin said smoothly, his voice carrying the usual condescension.

"Leaving the kingdom in search of myths. I only hope this… gamble does not weaken our foundation."

Axel's cold stare was enough to silence any further comment, but Selene met Valentine's gaze with unwavering resolve.

"Eldoria stands because of those who fight for it, not those who sit and question every choice made. You would do well to remember that."

A murmur of approval spread through the gathered crowd, and Valentine's smile faltered. He inclined his head but said no more, stepping back as the group prepared to depart.

They traveled on foot, venturing beyond Eldoria's recovering borders and into the wild unknown.

The terrain quickly turned unforgiving—dense forests, rocky paths, and old trails long since swallowed by time.

The map they carried, fragile with age, was barely readable, the ink faded and edges frayed.

"This doesn't make sense," Khael muttered, turning the map in his hands.

"If this was drawn centuries ago, then the landmarks might not even exist anymore."

Tyra groaned, kicking a loose stone aside.

"Then what's the point of following it? We could be going in circles."

Selene exhaled, wiping sweat from her brow.

The morning sun had given way to an oppressive midday heat, and every step felt heavier than the last.

"We don't have a better option," she said.

"Even if the land has changed, there must be something—some clue that still exists."

Axel, who had been walking ahead, came to a stop and glanced back at them. "Arguing won't get us there any faster. We need to focus."

Khael sighed, folding the map and tucking it away.

"Fine. But we need a plan. If we can't rely on the map, then we should be looking for anything that resembles the descriptions in the texts."

They pressed on, moving deeper into unfamiliar territory. The forest thickened, the trees growing taller and their canopy blocking out much of the light.

The air was damp, filled with the scent of moss and earth. Occasionally, they spotted ruins—crumbling pillars, remnants of structures overtaken by nature.

Selene paused near one such ruin, brushing her fingers over the worn stone. "Could this have been a part of Viridwyn?"

Axel studied the markings, shaking his head. "Too old, and the architecture doesn't match what we read."

Tyra crossed her arms. "So we're still nowhere."

Selene glanced at her companions, feeling the weight of their expectations. The journey had only begun, yet frustration was already settling in.

But turning back wasn't an option.

Somewhere beyond these trees lay the truth of Eldoria's past—and possibly, its future.

Meanwhile, back in Eldoria, Valentine retreated to his chambers, his mind already turning with plans.

Selene had left Lira in charge, not him. He clenched his jaw, knowing that many already questioned his place in the council. If he was to claim power, he would need to act before they returned.

Yet, despite his quiet scheming, most of Eldoria's people remained loyal to Selene and the new order she had built. Valentine would find that gaining true influence was not as simple as he had thought.

Unaware of the shadows growing behind them, Selene and her companions pressed forward, determined to uncover the secrets of Viridwyn before it was too late.

Selene's POV

Days stretched into an exhausting blur as we trudged through endless terrain, guided only by the fragile hope that the map we found was still accurate.

Our supplies dwindled, our bodies ached, and patience wore thin as we debated every bend in the path.

"We should have reached something by now," Khael muttered, frowning at the parchment in his hands. He turned it around as if hoping a different angle would reveal some secret we had missed.

"The landmarks aren't matching up."

Axel exhaled sharply. "We don't know how old that map is. Rivers change course, mountains erode. If we keep arguing over every misalignment, we'll never get anywhere."

"Or we'll get lost," Tyra shot back, kicking at a loose rock.

"We need to reassess before we walk into a dead end."

I wiped sweat from my brow, feeling the weight of their frustration as much as my own.

The days had been grueling, each step through open fields and over jagged hills feeling more like a test of endurance than a journey of discovery.

We had walked until our feet screamed in protest, until the sun had baked our skin and the nights had chilled our bones.

"We press on," I finally said, my voice firm despite my own doubts.

"If we turn back every time something doesn't match, we'll never move forward."

Silence followed, but it was one of resignation rather than defiance. The truth was, we had no choice. Even if we weren't sure of our exact path, we couldn't afford hesitation. Not with what was at stake.

So we moved, step by weary step, following the uncertain path the map laid before us.

The landscape shifted subtly as the days dragged on. The open plains gave way to rolling hills, then rocky outcrops, then a slow descent into denser vegetation.

The air grew cooler, the scent of earth and leaves thick around us. The first hints of trees appeared—small, scattered at first, then growing in number until we found ourselves standing at the edge of a sprawling forest.

At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about it. No glowing mist, no ancient ruins, no signs of a forgotten kingdom lost in time. Just trees—tall, sturdy, and unyielding. The wind rustled through the branches, whispering secrets we couldn't yet understand.

Tyra let out a tired breath, placing her hands on her hips. "That's it? After all this, we found a regular forest?"

Khael frowned, scanning the treeline. "There has to be something here. We followed the map exactly."

Axel ran a hand through his silver hair, his gaze fixed on the towering trunks. "If this really is the right place, then the truth is hidden. Either by time or by something more intentional."

I stepped forward, my fingers brushing against the rough bark of a tree. A strange sensation prickled at my skin—not quite warmth, not quite cold, but something in between. Faint, distant… familiar.

The others watched as I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the feeling. Something was here. I could sense it, just beyond my grasp, like an echo from a forgotten past waiting to be uncovered.

I turned back to them, determination settling in my chest. "This is the place. We just have to find a way to see it."

I took a slow breath, letting the air of the forest fill my lungs. There was something here—something just out of reach.

The same sensation I had felt near the Heart of Eldoria now stirred within me again, faint yet undeniable. My fingers twitched at my sides before I raised my hand, reaching toward the trees before me.

The moment my fingertips brushed the air beyond the treeline, a ripple spread outward, distorting the space like a stone dropped into still water. A warm energy rushed through my veins, and the dense, ordinary woodland before us wavered like an illusion breaking apart.

Axel stiffened beside me. "Selene—"

"I feel it," I murmured, taking another step forward. The forest shimmered, bending and twisting, the very fabric of reality shifting before us. And then, as if a veil had been lifted, the world beyond transformed before our eyes.

The trees inside were taller, their trunks stretching endlessly into the sky, their leaves glowing with an ethereal luminescence.

Soft golden light flickered in the air—tiny, floating orbs that danced between the branches, casting a dreamlike glow.

Vines of silver and blue draped from the boughs, swaying gently as if greeting us. The ground was blanketed in moss that seemed to pulse faintly, alive in a way that normal plants were not.

Tyra let out a low whistle. "Now this is more like it."

Khael was already scribbling in his notes, eyes wide with fascination. "This is incredible… The air here—it's different. Almost… charged."

Axel's gaze swept the hidden forest warily. "If it's been concealed for this long, it's for a reason."

A sudden rustling of leaves snapped our attention to the side. Before anyone could draw their weapons, a figure dropped down from the branches above, landing effortlessly on his feet with a light bounce.

He was tall and lean, his movements fluid as though he were part of the wind itself. His long, pale green hair was tied loosely at the back, and his bright emerald eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Well, well! Strangers in Viridwyn? That doesn't happen every day." His voice was light, full of curiosity.

"You lot must be either very lucky or very lost. Or both."

We tensed, unsure if he was a threat. I took a cautious step forward. "Who are you?"

The elf grinned, placing a hand over his chest with a dramatic flourish. "Faelar, the Wandering Ranger, at your service! And you—"

He squinted at us before gasping in exaggerated realization. "Wait! You're from outside, aren't you?"

Khael blinked. "Obviously."

Faelar chuckled. "Yes, yes, I suppose that was a silly question. But you see, no one comes here. Not unless Viridwyn allows it. Which begs the question…" He tilted his head, his smile never fading.

"Why are you here?"

Axel crossed his arms. "We're searching for answers. About Eldoria."

Faelar's brows rose, and he let out a low whistle. "Eldoria, huh? Now that is an old name. You must be on quite the journey."

"We are," I said firmly.

"And we need help."

Faelar's grin widened. "Well, you're in luck! I'm always up for a bit of excitement. But, uh… I hope you don't mind a few questions first. I mean, who wouldn't be curious about a group of outsiders waltzing into a hidden kingdom?"

Tyra sighed. "Something tells me he's going to ask them whether we agree or not."

Faelar winked. "You catch on quick! Now then, where to begin?"

to be continued.