Aria led me through winding stone alleys, past ivy-draped walls that seemed to hum with unseen energy. At the edge of the village, a heavy door carved with intricate runes opened to reveal a library larger than any I'd imagined. Shelves stretched upward into darkness, filled with tomes that radiated faint pulses of light.
"This is the Archives of Eldoria," Aria whispered. "Few are allowed inside, and fewer still survive long enough to read what they contain."
I wandered between the shelves, fingertips brushing the spines, feeling a connection to knowledge that transcended time. Each book seemed alive, breathing stories into the air. One, bound in midnight-blue leather, drew me irresistibly. Opening it, the script writhed and shifted, shaping itself into visions of forgotten battles, lost magics, and the rise and fall of kingdoms.
"You're different," Aria said softly, watching me. "Most newcomers can't comprehend this world. But you… you've already touched it."
Her words unsettled me. Was it instinct, luck, or something deeper that had guided me here? Regardless, I felt a spark of determination ignite. If I was to survive, I would need to master not only strength but knowledge—history, magic, and the intricate politics that bound this land together.