Whispers Beyond The Shore

She awoke to a faint creak from the trembling window, sunlight seeping gently across the wooden ceiling above her. The beams danced on the pendant resting against her chest. Across the room, Naelyth still slept, her face calm in a way Eirelyn hadn't seen before.

They rose not long after, settling at a small wooden table for a simple breakfast—grilled bread, wild berries, and a warm honey drink.

"I'm heading to the fields," Naelyth said, picking up her basket. "Someone I know promised to share part of their harvest."

Eirelyn nodded with a soft smile, seeing her off at the door. The moment it shut, she looked down at the pendant.

"How do I learn magic? How do I control it?" she whispered.

The pendant glowed gently. Symbols appeared before her like threads of light, dancing in the air. Instructions written in runic letters shimmered: Meditate. Whisper incantations. Focus on your spirit...

She sat on the ground, closed her eyes, and began.

"Salum... nereth... elonai... sira..." she whispered softly, letting the sounds roll off her tongue.

But when she reached the final step—focus on the spirit—something fractured.

A tremble inside. A pull. Her soul felt... unanchored.

She coughed violently.

Blood.

She gasped. Her eyes widened. Trembling hands pressed against the floor, where dark droplets stained the wood.

"No... this isn't good..."

Panic surged. She wiped the blood quickly, desperately, erasing all trace.

Then—

"I'M BACK!"

Naelyth's voice rang out as the door creaked open.

Eirelyn jumped.

"Is everything alright?" Naelyth asked.

"Yes—just... meditating a bit," Eirelyn replied quickly.

Naelyth grinned. "Well, I'll make my special stew!"

Eirelyn forced a laugh, masking the tension still shadowing her eyes.

After lunch, they wandered the village. Laughter echoed in the streets, children ran through the dust, and the sky above was impossibly blue.

For once, Eirelyn felt peace. Someone understood her. After betrayal, after the cliff, after awakening in a stranger's body, after Sarinia, the demon, and the frozen tiger… finally, she could breathe.

As the sun dipped, they returned home and readied for sleep. Silence cloaked Rathwyn once more.

In her dreams, Eirelyn floated in the void.

"Hello?" she called out. "Is anyone there?"

Light shimmered.

A figure emerged—the ghost of Eirelyn.

"You are capable," she said gently. "You can free them. Your spirit is stronger than you think. Just trust it."

Eirelyn's heart stirred with courage. "I'll try," she whispered.

Darkness again.

Then light—morning light.

She woke early. Naelyth still slept. Quietly, Eirelyn stepped outside.

She sat in the courtyard, took a breath, and began again.

Meditation.

Incantations.

"Salum... elonai... feretha... saen..."

Focus on the spirit.

Pain. A dizzying pull. But she stayed firm.

Minutes passed. Then—

She opened her eyes.

A small white orb floated before her. Soft. Pure. Like a newborn star.

She gasped, then smiled.

It vanished.

She laughed gently. It had worked.

Returning to the house, she found Naelyth awake.

"Where were you this morning?" Naelyth asked.

"I just needed some fresh air," Eirelyn replied, then quickly added, "Something smells delicious!"

After breakfast, she asked innocently:

"Is there a temple nearby?"

Naelyth raised an eyebrow. "That old ruin? It's dangerous. Why?"

"I just... thought I'd offer a prayer for the village."

Naelyth hesitated. Then nodded.

They walked.

A hunched old man near a crooked hut spotted them.

"DON'T GO TO THE TEMPLE. DARKNESS DWELLS THERE!" he shouted.

But when his eyes landed on the pendant, he recoiled in horror.

Eirelyn quickly hid it beneath her tunic. Naelyth looked confused but said nothing.

As they neared the temple, a chill raced down Eirelyn's spine.

Dozens of charms dangled from the walls—wards, old prayers.

Naelyth gripped her wrist. "That's enough. Let's go back."

But Eirelyn stepped forward, raised her hand, and summoned a flicker of white light. She struck one of the charms.

It shattered.

A distant scream echoed.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Naelyth screamed. "ARE YOU A WITCH?!"

Eirelyn shook her head. "NO—WAIT, I—"

"YOU LIED TO ME! I SAVED YOU, FED YOU, SHARED MY HOME—AND THIS IS WHO YOU ARE?"

"I'm not—"

"ENOUGH."

Naelyth turned and ran, disappearing into the trees.

Eirelyn exhaled shakily, then pushed the temple door.

Inside, the charm waited. Black. Pulsing.

She stepped forward—

And froze.

A figure rose from the darkness. Humanoid. But not human. Eyes like dead coals.

He grabbed her throat, lifted her off the ground.

She struggled. Her vision blurred.

A soft glow—her pendant. The magic responded, drawn by her desperation.

She unleashed a blast of white light.

The ghost shrieked, recoiling.

"ALETHA?" she gasped.

He paused. Then nodded slowly.

"You're not from this village," he said in a voice like broken glass.

"No," Eirelyn whispered.

"Then why are you here?"

"I want to break the curse."

Aletha laughed—an echoing, bone-rattling sound.

"YOU KNOW NOTHING."

"THEN TELL ME!" Eirelyn shouted. "WHAT DON'T I KNOW?!"

The spirit's voice lowered, trembling.

"I was a healer. I had children. When the chief's son died in my care, they blamed me. They took my sons. KILLED THEM IN FRONT OF ME. And then... they burned me."

A silence filled the temple.

"I cursed them. With my final breath."

"Revenge won't bring them back," Eirelyn said softly.

"THEY DESERVE TO SUFFER!"

Aletha's ghost screamed. Shadows surged.

Eirelyn raised a barrier of white light. The ghosts couldn't reach her.

She ran.

Aletha tried to block her path, but Eirelyn pressed forward.

The black charm pulsed wildly. She grabbed it. Burning heat seared her skin.

She screamed—and shattered it.

Darkness peeled away.

Aletha's true spirit appeared, soft and bright. She smiled.

And vanished.

Eirelyn collapsed to her knees.

"EIRELYN?!" a voice called.

She looked up.

Naelyth.

"I'm so sorry... I saw everything. I understand now."

She ran to her, embraced her.

Then—

Torches. Yelling. The villagers. Stones hurled.

"THAT'S HER! SHE'S THE WITCH!" the old man bellowed.

Eirelyn tried to speak—but exhaustion dragged her down.

Naelyth stepped forward.

"WAIT! LISTEN! I SAW IT ALL! SHE BROKE THE CURSE!"

"She's not from our village!" someone cried.

"I saw her pendant glow!" the old man added.

"She carries the magic—but she USED IT TO HELP!" Naelyth countered. "Go inside. See for yourselves."

Hesitant, they entered the temple.

Nothing remained.

Silence.

Then murmurs. Apologies.

That night, they held a feast. For the first time in centuries, Rathwyn stepped into the night without fear.

At dawn, Eirelyn stood at the edge of the village.

Naelyth handed her a satchel packed with supplies.

"You'll come back someday, right?" she asked.

Eirelyn smiled. "I promise."

One of the men pointed down a dirt path.

"Head straight. You'll find a cart passing through... bound for Nimora."

With a nod, Eirelyn walked forward. The pendant on her chest shimmered beneath the morning light.

Toward Nemora.

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