CHAPTER TWO:THE WHISPERING WIND

The morning after the crimson moon's appearance, Eldor was alive with chatter. Some believed it was a blessing from the heavens, while others feared it was a sign of trouble. The village square buzzed with excited voices, each person eager to share their own theory.

Lysara, however, felt something different. It wasn't fear or excitement—it was a quiet pull, like an invisible thread tying her to something just out of reach. She couldn't shake the feeling that the moon had whispered to her in her dreams, calling her toward something unknown.

She stepped outside her home and took a deep breath. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh dew and blooming wildflowers. But as she listened, something else filled the air—a sound so soft it could almost be mistaken for the rustling of leaves. It was a whisper, drifting through the wind.

"Follow the light…"

Lysara froze. She turned her head, expecting to see someone nearby, but the street was empty. Only the gentle breeze moved around her, curling through the village like an unseen messenger.

"Lysara!" called Finn, jogging toward her. His dark curls bounced as he skidded to a stop, eyes alight with excitement. "Did you hear? Old Master Thalin says the stars changed last night! He says it's a sign of something ancient returning!"

Lysara's heart pounded. First the whispering wind, now the stars? The sky itself seemed to be pointing toward something bigger than she could understand.

She hesitated before speaking. "Finn… I think I need to go into the Whispering Woods."

His smile faded. "You can't be serious."

The Whispering Woods lay at the edge of Eldor, a place where towering trees stretched toward the sky, their branches entwining like fingers holding ancient secrets. Paths twisted and turned unpredictably, and villagers spoke of strange happenings—fireflies that flickered with a silver glow, and voices that called to travelers when the moon was full.

"Lysara," Finn said carefully, "you know what people say about the woods. The last person who went too far in—" He stopped, lowering his voice. "They never came back."

"I know," Lysara admitted. "But I have to go. I can't explain it… I just know something is waiting for me there."

Finn frowned, glancing toward the towering trees in the distance. He sighed. "If you're going, I'm going too."

A grateful smile spread across Lysara's face. "Thank you, Finn."

Together, they made their way through the village, past the well-worn cobblestone paths, and toward the forest's entrance. As soon as they stepped beneath the ancient canopy, the world changed. The sun's warmth faded into a cool hush. Leaves rustled softly overhead, and golden beams of light filtered through the gaps in the branches, dancing across the mossy ground.

A sudden gust of wind swirled around them, curling between the trees like an invisible ribbon. The whispering voice returned, clearer this time.

"The time has come…"

Finn stiffened. "Tell me you heard that."

Lysara nodded slowly, her fingers tightening around the hem of her cloak. "We're not alone in here."

Yet strangely, she didn't feel afraid.

She felt ready.

The adventure had begun.