The solitude was a heavy cloak, a comforting blanket at times, yet suffocating at others. The silence of the woods was broken only by the rustling of leaves, the chirping of crickets, and the relentless whisper of the wind.
She yearned for connection, for companionship, but the fear of discovery, the constant threat of the corrupted witches, kept her isolated. Her magic made her a target, a beacon in the darkness.
Yet, amidst the solitude, a flicker of defiance burned within her. She wouldn't let fear control her. "I won't let my mother's sacrifice be in vain", she told herself. I will master my power, understand my mother's legacy, and fulfill my destiny.
The world outside the Whispering Woods was in danger, a world fractured by betrayal and shrouded in darkness, and I, Seraphina, would be its shield, its light, its hope. I will uncover the secrets hidden within my mother's journals, decipher the cryptic clues, and find a way to save the world, one whispered spell at a time.
As the potion simmered, its emerald glow reflecting in her determined eyes, she thought of the circumstances of her birth recorded in the diary.
15 YEARS AGO....
The wind howled a mournful song through the jagged peaks that surrounded the sanctuary, a constant, chilling reminder of the world beyond their hidden refuge. In a dim room sat Aurora, Seraphina's mother staring out the window with her daughter in her arms, barely a toddler at the time, eyes wide with wonder, took in the towering peaks that loomed over her.
The wind's mournful melody whispered through the sanctuary, a haunting echo that seemed to speak of forgotten tales and hidden mysteries.
Aurora holding little Ina(Seraphina) was thinking of how she got here. Mary the helper who looked after Aurora's necessities was dusting and arranging the room when she suddenly said, "It has been 18 months, my lady."
"Indeed it has, since that disastrous day." Aurora replied. "Although it was also the most wonderful day for me."
"Of course it was, afterall little Ina was born that day." Mary said. "However the treachery we faced must to be repaid."
"And it will by, this is a blood debt, Lucas will pay for every single soul that was lost." Aurora said.
"It was thanks to lord Mark that you were able to escape when you did, but even then it was not without price." Mary said sadly as her eyes filled with tears at the thought of her lady slowly dying with barely a year left in her.
"I don't regret the decision I made, Mary, After all Ina is the future, If it meant bringing her into this world, I will sacrifice myself and my mates without hesitation. However I only had to sacrifice my lifespan, which is a rather acceptable outcome "
While Aurora and Mary were having the conversation, the mountain trembled, a deep rumble that resonated through Ina's small frame, as if the earth itself was alive and breathing. She felt an innate connection to her surrounding, a sense of belonging despite her young age.
It was as if the very spirit of the mountain had chosen her as its guardian, entrusting her with its secrets.