The air grew colder as she stepped past the moss-covered stones, drawn forward by the black-winged creature gliding silently ahead. It didn't look back, yet she felt its awareness — as if it knew everything she carried in her heart.
Each step deeper into the forest made her feel smaller, but lighter too. No voices screamed at her here. No glares burned into her skin. Just the wind… and the faint glow of magic.
Then she saw it.
Nestled between twisted trees and fog-draped cliffs, the Mage Tower rose like a ghost from another world. Its spires pierced the clouds, and its stones pulsed with a faint violet shimmer, humming with ancient power.
Her breath caught. For a long while, she simply stared.
She had no name.
No home.
No voice.
But here, standing on the threshold of something bigger than she'd ever imagined… she would begin again.
---
The gates creaked open as if expecting her.
The creature landed beside her. Its glowing eyes met hers — deep, ancient, oddly gentle.
"You came," it said, its voice not heard but felt.
She nodded slowly. "You led me here."
"You chose to follow. That means you're ready."
She hesitated. "Ready for what?"
"To become what they never let you be."
---
Inside, the Tower breathed with magic. Floating candles lit the stone halls. Runes glimmered under her feet with every step. There were no guards, no servants — only silence and presence.
She followed the creature through the winding staircase. Its black wings brushed the walls, leaving faint trails of starlight behind. After several flights, they stopped before a heavy wooden door inlaid with silver veins that shimmered faintly.
"This is your room," it said. "You'll be safe here."
The door swung open. A bed with velvet sheets, a wardrobe, a small writing desk, and—her breath caught—a balcony facing the endless woods. It was more than she'd ever had.
She stepped inside slowly, touching the carved edges of the table like it might vanish. Then she turned to the creature.
"You still haven't told me who you are."
"You'll know soon enough," it replied. "But first… you must choose who you are."
She straightened, something firm settling in her chest. "I do now," she said quietly. Then louder, firmer — "Serenya. That's what I'll be called."
A pulse rippled through the air. The Tower seemed to accept it.
---
Later that night, Serenya stepped onto the balcony. The stars here were brighter—closer, even. The trees whispered secrets in the wind. For once, the silence didn't feel empty.
She leaned against the railing. "Why do I feel like I'm meant to be here?" she whispered.
The creature's wings rustled behind her as it stepped into the moonlight.
"Because you are. The Tower called for you. It always does… when the time is right."
"Why me?"
"Because your story never truly began. It was stolen from you."
Her fingers curled into the stone rail. "Stolen?"
"You'll understand in time," it said gently. "But you must remember… the past isn't done with you yet."
Lightning cracked across the sky.
A gust of wind slammed the balcony door shut behind her.
And far below, in the dark forest beyond the Tower… something stirred.
Something that had been waiting for her return.