Part 3: The Hidden Truth

The air was heavy with unspoken words.

Lyra sat on the living room couch, her hands trembling as she clutched the photo of the man named C. Her mother stood by the window, her back turned, shoulders rigid. Outside, the world continued as usual—cars passing by, neighbors laughing, the sun dipping below the horizon.

But inside, nothing felt normal anymore.

Lyra's voice shook as she broke the silence. "You lied to me."

Elena flinched but didn't turn around. "I did it to protect you."

"From what?" Lyra's anger bubbled up, her chest tightening. "From that… thing that tried to kill me? From shadows that move on their own? From finding out I'm not even from this world?" Her voice cracked, the hurt clear in every word. "Who am I, Mom?"

Slowly, Elena turned, her eyes red and swollen. "I hoped you'd never have to know. I thought… if I kept you hidden here, you'd be safe. But I was wrong." She sank into the armchair opposite Lyra, her shoulders sagging as if a great weight was pressing down on her. "You're not from this world, Lyra. You're from Eldoria."

The name felt familiar, echoing in Lyra's mind like a half-remembered dream. "Eldoria?"

"It's a realm beyond this one," Elena explained. "A place of magic and wonder… and darkness." She hesitated, her gaze drifting to the shadows dancing on the walls. "Your father… he was from there."

Lyra's heart skipped a beat. "My father?" She looked down at the photo. "C… his name was C?"

"Caelum Evenshade," Elena whispered, her voice tinged with sorrow. "He was the bravest man I ever knew." Her eyes softened as she looked at the photo. "We met by chance, in a place where the veil between worlds was thin. It was never supposed to happen… but we fell in love."

Lyra's grip on the photo tightened. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted you to have a normal life," Elena said, her voice breaking. "I wanted you to be safe from the horrors of that world. From… him."

Lyra felt a chill run down her spine. "Who?"

Elena's face darkened. "The Hollow King."

The name sent a shiver through the room, the shadows flickering as if reacting to it.

"He was once a powerful sorcerer, the ruler of a mighty kingdom. But his hunger for power consumed him. He tried to open the ancient doors… to gain control over life and death itself." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It destroyed him. He became a creature of shadows, cursed to rule the Hollow Wastes, a land of darkness and despair."

Lyra's head spun. "What does that have to do with me?"

Elena looked at her with pain in her eyes. "Because you are the Keybearer, Lyra. You were born under the silver storm, marked by the ancient magic that binds our worlds together. You have the power to open the doors—the same doors the Hollow King seeks."

Lyra's hands shook, her mind racing. "I… I can't. I don't even know how."

"That's why he wants you," Elena said urgently. "If he captures you, he can use your power to break the veil between worlds… and bring his darkness here."

The room grew colder, the shadows pressing in closer. Lyra's breath hitched as she remembered the creature's glowing blue eyes, its jagged teeth. "He sent that thing to find me."

Elena nodded, her jaw clenched. "His shadows are everywhere. They can pass through the veil, searching for you. It was only a matter of time before they found us."

Lyra's chest tightened with fear. "What do we do?"

"We run," Elena said, her voice steely. "There's a place—a sanctuary, hidden from the shadows. If we can reach it, you'll be safe. For now."

Lyra stood up, her legs trembling. "Where is it?"

Elena hesitated. "Beyond the veil."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Lyra's heart pounded. "You mean… we're going to Eldoria?"

Her mother's eyes darkened with worry. "It's the only way. If we stay here, they'll keep coming. But in Eldoria, I can protect you. I can teach you to control your powers."

Lyra looked at her wrist, at the faint silver mark that had always been there, glowing softly under the dim light. She remembered the way the shadows danced for her, the way they moved at her command.

And she remembered the creature's words. "You are the Keybearer."

Her life would never be the same again.

Elena stood up, her movements hurried. "We have to leave tonight. Pack only what you need. We don't have much time."

As Lyra stumbled to her room, her heart raced with fear and anticipation. A thousand questions swirled in her mind, but one thought rose above the rest.

She was going to a world of magic.

A world where she belonged.

But she also knew… something was waiting for her there. Something dark. Something hungry.

The Hollow King.

And he would stop at nothing to get her.

---

Eldoria – The Hollow Wastes

In the ruined fortress of obsidian, the Hollow King stood before his mirror of shadows, its surface rippling with darkness. It showed him a glimpse of the mortal realm, of a girl with silver eyes and a mark on her wrist.

His fingers tightened around his sword, the blade humming with dark energy. "So… the Keybearer has awakened."

The shadows behind him shifted, taking the form of a hooded figure. "She is still young. Untrained."

The Hollow King's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Perfect." He turned, his eyes glowing with icy malice. "Prepare the hunters. She will not escape me again."

The hooded figure bowed low. "As you command, my king."

As the figure melted into the darkness, the Hollow King's gaze returned to the mirror. He reached out, his fingers brushing the surface, causing it to ripple.

"Your power will be mine, child," he whispered. "And with it, I shall rule both worlds."

His laughter echoed through the empty halls, cold and hollow.

Far away, in the mortal world, the shadows outside Lyra's house shivered… and began to move.