Chyren had wandered the forests and rivers of Vyranth for months, chasing the memory of a dream that felt more real than life itself. His body ached, his hands were rough, and his clothes were worn thin, patched many times. Yet nothing could stop him. The pink lake, Aurelya, her glowing eyes, and the melody she sang pulled him forward.
But with every passing day, doubt crept into his mind. How could he hope to find a girl who existed only in dreams? Was it possible that his heart had been tricked by imagination, or was there truly a world beyond his own, waiting for him to cross?
One evening, exhausted and hungry, Chyren made his way to the small house of Master Oryn, the wise old sage who had guided many young men and women of Vyranth. The sage lived on the edge of the forest, in a house surrounded by ancient trees. Smoke drifted from a small chimney, and the air smelled of burning herbs and dried flowers.
Chyren knocked gently. The door opened, revealing Master Oryn, a man whose white hair fell past his shoulders and whose eyes were sharp yet kind.
"Chyren," the sage said, smiling softly. "You come at an unusual hour. Come in, child. Sit, and tell me what troubles your heart."
Chyren hesitated at the threshold, unsure where to begin. Finally, he stepped inside, shivering from the cold, and sat across from the sage. "Master… I must tell you something," he said, voice trembling. "I… I have been seeing a girl. Every night. In my dreams. A pink lake… pink trees… and a girl with eyes like dawn."
Master Oryn's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing. He gestured for Chyren to continue.
"She calls me," Chyren said, tears welling in his eyes. "I do not know who she is, yet I feel as if my heart belongs to her. I have searched the forests, the rivers, the mountains… but I cannot find her. I feel lost, Master. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat properly… I only think of her."
Master Oryn remained silent, watching Chyren closely. After a long pause, he spoke in a calm, measured voice. "Chyren… what you describe is not merely a dream. It is a calling."
Chyren looked up, hope and confusion mixing in his gaze. "A calling? What do you mean?"
"The world you walk," Master Oryn said, "is not the only world that exists. There are realms beyond the reach of ordinary men. There are lands of wonder, of magic, where beings live who are older than time itself."
Chyren's heart pounded. "Beings… like her?"
"Yes," the sage said softly. "She is not of your world. She belongs to a realm that humans rarely enter—a realm that your kind calls the Fairy World. There, life is different, governed by laws unknown to mortals. And there, her kind cannot fall in love with humans… or at least, it is forbidden."
Chyren's breath caught. "Then… if I want to meet her… what must I do?"
Master Oryn's eyes grew serious. "The path is dangerous. To cross into the Fairy World is to step beyond the veil. Many who try are lost, never to return. And even if you find her, the laws of that world may not allow you to stay. Once you enter, there may be no way back until she herself chooses to let you return."
Chyren's hands trembled. "I… I do not care. I will go. I cannot live without her. I… I would rather risk everything than be apart."
Master Oryn studied him for a long moment. "Your courage is clear, Chyren. And your heart… it is strong enough to survive what awaits. But know this—entering the Fairy World is not like walking through the forests of Vyranth. There will be trials, dangers, and sacrifices. You will face creatures of darkness, and even the light may challenge your resolve. Your only guide will be love, and your only strength will be your heart."
Chyren nodded, determination hardening in his eyes. "I am ready, Master. I have waited too long. I cannot wait any longer. Show me the way."
Master Oryn sighed, a mixture of concern and acceptance in his gaze. "Very well. There is a gateway, a doorway hidden in the highest part of the mountains, where the mortal world thins and the unseen becomes visible. Only through that door can you enter the Fairy World. But hear me well, Chyren: once you step through, you may not return until the one you seek comes to the threshold and willingly lets you back. Until that moment, your fate belongs to that world."
Chyren's heart leapt. "Then I will go. I do not care if I cannot return. I… I want to see her. I want to be with her."
The sage nodded slowly. "It is your choice. But remember, Chyren, the Fairy World is not a place of simple beauty. It is a realm of wonders, yes, but also of tests and laws that even love cannot bend. There will be creatures who wish to harm you, and beings who will try to guide or mislead you. You must keep your mind clear, your heart steady, and your courage unwavering."
Chyren bowed his head. "I understand, Master. I am ready."
Master Oryn placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Then go with care, child. And remember—love is your guiding star. Let it lead you, but let your wisdom protect you."
Chyren left the sage's house that night, carrying a small bundle of food and a cloak against the cold. The moon hung low over the mountains, casting silver light over the snow. He climbed the steep paths, each step heavy yet purposeful. His heart pounded with anticipation, fear, and hope.
The wind whispered through the trees as he ascended. The air grew thinner, colder, and the stars seemed closer than ever before. And in his mind, Aurelya's voice called to him, soft and clear:
"Chyren… you are coming. Soon, the worlds will meet."
Hours passed. The mountain trails grew steeper, rocks cutting into his hands as he climbed. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his legs trembled with fatigue. Yet nothing could stop him. The gateway awaited—the doorway to the world where the pink lake shimmered, where Aurelya's eyes glowed like dawn, where love waited beyond mortal bounds.
Finally, in the quiet hours before dawn, Chyren reached a clearing at the top of the highest ridge. He could feel a strange energy in the air, a vibration that made his skin tingle. The trees around him shimmered faintly, their bark glimmering in silver light. In the center of the clearing was a faint circle, carved into the stone by forces older than memory—a doorway, invisible to all but those called to it.
Chyren knelt, taking a deep breath. His heart raced. Beyond this doorway lay the world of Aurelya, the world of fairies, a realm forbidden to humans. Yet he felt no fear. Only certainty. Only love.
He whispered to the wind, to the mountains, to the stars: "I am ready. I will step through, and I will find you, Aurelya. No matter what awaits me, I will not turn back."
The air around him shimmered, the circle glowing softly. The mountains seemed to fall away, revealing a world of light and color beyond anything he had ever imagined. Chyren rose, heart steady, and stepped forward, leaving the worl
d of men behind.
And in that moment, his journey truly began.