The evening sky shimmered gold as Robinson Hale stood before the old wooden house that once belonged to his grandfather.
The place looked exactly like the stories his mother used to tell—its paint faded, the windows covered in dust, and the front door creaking softly in the breeze.
Robinson took a deep breath and turned the knob.
"Well… here I am," he muttered quietly.
As the door opened, a wave of musty air filled his lungs.
The scent of time lingered in every corner — the same bookshelf by the wall, the rocking chair by the window, and that old clock that had long stopped ticking.
He set his bag down and rolled up his sleeves.
"Alright, Robinson. Let's make this place shine again."
For hours he swept, dusted, and wiped down the furniture.
On one of the shelves, he found a few old books — some so ancient that the titles were written in strange letters.
One of them caught his eye:
"Chronicles of Selenaria."
He frowned slightly. "Weird title," he said under his breath, then placed it carefully back on the shelf.
By the time he finished, the sun had nearly set.
Robinson sat back in the old wooden chair, admiring his work. The place felt alive again, almost as if it had been waiting for him to return.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
Mom: "Robinson, did you make it there safely?"
Robinson: "Yeah, Mom. Just finished cleaning up. The house… it's exactly like I remember."
Mom: "That's good. Your father, your sister, and I will come over tonight. We'll stay for a few days."
Robinson: "Really? I thought I'd be alone tonight."
Mom: "No, sweetheart. That house holds a lot of memories. I think your grandfather would be happy knowing we're all there."
The call ended.
Robinson smiled faintly at the screen.
"Guess I won't be alone after all."
Night fell quickly.
The wind outside began to howl, and the lights flickered.
Then—
Crack.
A sharp noise echoed from the backyard.
Robinson froze.
"Probably just an animal…" he muttered, though curiosity slowly overpowered his nerves.
He grabbed a flashlight from the table and stepped outside through the back door.
The night air was damp and strangely cold.
The beam of light cut through the darkness, revealing tall grass and scattered branches.
Then he saw it — a hole in the ground, hidden behind the overgrown weeds.
He crouched down, shining his flashlight inside.
"This wasn't here before…"
Carefully, he climbed down. The tunnel sloped downward into what looked like an underground cave. The air inside shimmered faintly, as though dust particles glowed in the dark.
Each step echoed softly.
At the end of the tunnel, something glimmered.
Pushing through a curtain of vines, Robinson gasped.
Before him stood a stone archway, covered in ancient runes that glowed with a silver-blue light. The air hummed with quiet energy.
"What… is this?" he whispered.
The moment his fingers brushed against the surface of the arch, the light surged — swirling around him in a brilliant storm.
The ground vanished beneath his feet.
And in an instant, Robinson was pulled into the light.
The world dissolved.
When he opened his eyes again, the air smelled of wildflowers and the sky above glowed violet under two moons.
He wasn't in his world anymore.
He had crossed the gate — into Selenaria.
A soft breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the scent of flowers and damp earth.
Strange birds with shimmering feathers glided between tall trunks as violet light filtered down from the sky above.
Robinson Hale slowly opened his eyes.
His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy—as if he had fallen through a dream.
He sat up, blinking at the sight before him.
The forest around him was vast and breathtaking. The trees were enormous, their leaves tinted with blue-green light, and glowing flowers sparkled faintly across the ground like tiny stars.
"Where… am I?" he muttered.
He glanced down at his hands—still the same—but the air felt different.
Warmer. Thicker. Alive with some kind of strange energy that made his heart race.
Robinson stood, brushing dirt off his jeans.
"This isn't… Grandpa's backyard. No way."
He turned in a slow circle, searching for the cave entrance he'd fallen through—but it was gone.
Only trees, mist, and the distant hum of wind remained.
Then he heard it.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of hooves—heavy and rhythmic—echoing through the forest.
Robinson's instincts kicked in. He ducked behind a large tree, holding his breath.
From the shadows, he peeked through the leaves… and froze.
A group of armored soldiers rode past, their silver armor gleaming under the fading light.
Each carried a banner marked with a shining star symbol.
And among them rode a young woman on a white horse.
Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, cascading over a pale blue cloak.
A silver crest adorned her shoulder armor—the same star symbol.
Her eyes were sharp yet calm, the gaze of someone born to lead.
She lifted her bow and scanned the horizon.
"Eastward," she said in a firm, graceful voice.
"The wyverns were last seen beyond the ridge."
One of the knights nodded.
"As you command, Princess Liora!"
"Princess…?" Robinson whispered, eyes wide.
He peeked again, disbelief painted across his face.
"A real princess?"
The white horse moved slowly past his hiding spot, her cloak fluttering in the wind.
For a moment, Robinson forgot to breathe—she looked like something straight out of a dream.
Then—crack!
A twig snapped beneath his foot.
"Who's there!?" shouted one of the soldiers.
Robinson froze.
"Oh, no. Not good!"
Three soldiers dismounted, drawing their swords.
"Show yourself!"
He tried to step back—but his heel caught on a root, sending him tumbling to the ground.
His flashlight flicked on, shining straight into his face.
The sudden beam caught everyone's attention.
"A light spell?!" one soldier shouted.
"Seize him!"
Before they could move, the princess raised her hand.
Her voice was calm but commanding.
"Wait."
She guided her horse forward, stopping right in front of Robinson.
Up close, she was even more radiant—her sapphire-blue eyes studied him curiously.
"He's no creature of the forest," she said softly.
"His clothes are strange… Who are you, stranger?"
Robinson swallowed hard, heart pounding.
"Uh… I—I'm Robinson. Robinson Hale. I think I'm… lost?"
The princess tilted her head slightly.
Her gaze lingered on him, thoughtful.
"Robinson," she repeated.
"A name unheard of in Selenaria."
He blinked. "Sele… what?"
The knights tightened their grip on their weapons, surrounding him—but the princess raised her hand again, her expression unreadable.