The river flowed the same way every day.
Calm.
Unchanging.
But she kept coming back.
Not because she had to.
Because something about it felt right.
The girl stood at the edge, barefoot, watching the water move.
"…why does this feel so familiar…"
She had asked herself that before.
More than once.
But the answer never came.
Only the feeling stayed.
A quiet warmth.
Not strong.
Not overwhelming.
Just… there.
She crouched slightly, her fingers brushing the surface.
The water rippled.
Soft.
Gentle.
And for a brief moment, something flickered.
Not a memory.
Not an image.
A feeling.
Loss.
So sudden, so deep that her hand pulled back instantly.
"…what was that…"
Her breath caught slightly.
Not from fear.
From confusion.
Because it didn't feel new.
It felt remembered.
"…weird…"
She stood up slowly.
Trying to shake it off.
Trying to return to normal.
But something inside her didn't let go.
"Liora!"
A voice called out from behind.
Bright.
Familiar.
The girl turned.
"…coming!"
Liora.
That was her name.
Liora Elwyn.
Born in a quiet village surrounded by forests and rivers.
No royalty.
No status.
Just a simple life.
And yet, not entirely.
She walked back toward the house.
But her steps slowed slightly.
Her gaze shifting once more back to the river.
"…it feels like I left something there…"
The thought came without reason.
Without logic.
But it stayed.
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Then years.
Liora grew.
Just like any other child.
Learning.
Laughing.
Living.
But every now and then, it returned.
That feeling.
Not constant.
Not predictable.
Just… present.
Like something waiting to be noticed.
At the age of 10, she sat alone by the same river.
The sun setting in the distance.
The light reflecting across the water.
Warm.
Gentle.
And suddenly, her chest tightened.
Not painfully.
But sharply.
"…why…"
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"…why does this hurt…"
She didn't understand it.
Because nothing had happened.
Nothing was wrong.
And yet, something felt missing.
Something important.
Something she had lost—but couldn't remember losing.
Her eyes shifted to the horizon.
"…are you there…"
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Not directed at anyone.
But meant for someone.
A silence followed.
Then, the wind moved.
Stronger this time.
Not natural.
Recognizable.
Liora froze.
Just for a moment.
"…that feeling again…"
Her heart beat faster.
Not out of fear.
Something else.
Something closer to certainty.
But before it could form, it faded.
Just like before.
Leaving her with nothing but questions.
Far away, Arin stopped walking.
Mid-step.
For no reason.
Or at least, no visible one.
His gaze shifted slightly.
"…that…"
A faint sensation passed through him.
Warm.
Familiar.
Gone.
Just as quickly.
He stood still for a moment.
"…someone's there."
Not a guess.
A feeling.
One he couldn't explain.
But didn't ignore.
"…good."
A small pause.
"…then I'm not too late."
He continued walking.
Without knowing where he was going.
Without knowing who he was looking for.
But certain of one thing.
He would find her.
And somewhere, in that same world, she was already waiting.
Without knowing why.