June 2018 – Elysion Park
Summer came early that year.
By mid-June, the air above Elysion Park shimmered with heat, and the pathways buzzed with sound — families laughing, music drifting from the Jungle Zone, and the rhythmic roar of Serpent's Run echoing over the treetops.
From the hill above Explorer's Landing, the half-finished temple of Legends of the Lost Realm rose higher than ever before.
The façade was nearly complete: carved stone, golden symbols, and massive pillars wrapped in vines.
But the name of the ride — its identity — was still a secret.
For months, guests had speculated endlessly.
Some thought it was a new show. Others swore it was a coaster hidden inside a warehouse.
Bloggers traded blurry construction photos, and fan forums argued over every visible detail.
At the center of it all, Emma sat in the media office, surrounded by screens.
One showed aerial drone footage of the temple; another, a timeline for the upcoming campaign.
The date on the board read: July 5 – Official Reveal.
Lucas stood beside her, arms crossed. "How's the edit coming?"
Emma tapped a key, and the monitor filled with color — deep gold and dark green.
Slow, orchestral music swelled as a voiceover began:
'Long before explorers set foot in this world… whispers spoke of a realm hidden beyond time.
Beneath the surface, the gates await.
Soon, they will open.'
The screen faded to black, revealing only the glowing text: LEGENDS OF THE LOST REALM – OPENING 2019.
Lucas nodded slowly. "That's perfect."
Emma smiled. "Simple. Mysterious. And it doesn't spoil a single thing."
"Exactly," Lucas said. "It should feel like a legend, not a commercial."
He watched the footage replay in silence — the shadows, the flickering torches, the faint glimmer of the serpent symbols etched into stone.
It wasn't finished yet, but it already carried that feeling he always chased: wonder.
"Upload it next week," he said finally. "Let the world start guessing."
Outside, construction continued through the summer heat.
Inside the showbuilding, crews were now deep into the theming work.
The first corridor — The Hall of Whispers — stood almost complete.
Dark stone walls glimmered under shifting light, faint mist rolled from hidden vents, and glowing runes pulsed softly in rhythm with unseen drums.
In the tunnels beyond, painters worked under dim lamps, brushing gold patterns across sculpted walls.
The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the unfinished halls.
One of the workers whispered as he looked around,
"Feels like it's alive in here."
He wasn't wrong.
From the viewing platform above, Walter watched them with quiet pride.
Everything was on schedule — maybe even ahead of it.
He looked down at his tablet, checking off another milestone: façade 90% complete, interior scene 1 finished, sensor tests scheduled.
For a moment, he glanced toward the open doorway, where the evening sun bled into the dust-filled air.
Somewhere out there, Lucas was already planning what came next.
Walter smiled. "You're really something, boss," he muttered. "You never stop."
The morning began quietly.
The air outside shimmered with heat, the park already alive with crowds, but in the media room everything stood still — the calm before release.
Emma sat at her desk, finger hovering over the Upload button.
On the main monitor, the final render of the video looped silently: the slow camera pan through the mist, the gleam of golden light, the faint heartbeat-like rhythm beneath the orchestral swell.
Next to her, Lucas stood motionless, arms crossed.
"You ready?" Emma asked.
Lucas nodded once. "Post it."
A single tap. The progress bar filled.
Within seconds, the official Elysion Park YouTube channel refreshed — and the title appeared in white letters against black:
'Elysion Park Presents: Legends of the Lost Realm – The Gates Will Open 2019.'
The first comment arrived before the view counter even refreshed.
Then another.
Then dozens.
By midday, the video had gone viral within the European theme park community.
Fan pages flooded with speculation; vloggers dissected every frame.
One paused on the flicker of a golden serpent engraving.
"That can't be a coincidence," he said to his camera. "They're tying this to Serpent's Run! Look at the texture — it's identical."
Another zoomed in on the torchlight reflected in the stone hallway.
"That's not coaster track," she said excitedly. "That's a themed ride system — maybe trackless? Maybe ETF? This could be something huge."
Within hours, forums across Germany, the Netherlands, and France filled with threads titled "Elysion Park's Next Masterpiece?"
At the park itself, guests gathered near the construction fences, watching the temple shimmer in the afternoon sun.
The once-silent façade now seemed charged with mystery.
New banners had appeared overnight — deep crimson fabric with the symbol of a glowing gate, and below it, the words:
'The Realm Awaits. 2019.'
A small crowd lingered, snapping photos, debating what could be hidden inside.
A father lifted his daughter to see over the fence. "What do you think it is?"
The girl grinned. "A secret world."
Inside the building, the temperature was cool and dry.
Walter walked through the first completed corridor — The Hall of Whispers.
Soft air drifted from the vents; the faint glow of the rune lights pulsed with gentle rhythm.
He stopped for a moment, running his hand over the carved wall. The texture felt cold, almost real.
"We've come a long way," he murmured.
Behind him, workers continued installing fixtures for the next section — the Gate of Ages.
Half the walls were still bare concrete, but the layout was clear.
The tunnels curved, leading deeper into the dark, where the foundations for three separate paths waited.
Walter smiled slightly, picturing what it would be like once finished.
Soon, guests would walk through these halls, not realizing how much work — and patience — had gone into every stone.
He looked toward the far end of the corridor, where the last shafts of daylight cut through the dust.
"Almost there," he said softly. "Almost."
Outside, as night fell, the temple façade glowed with subtle golden light.
From the entrance bridge, Lucas watched in silence as visitors gathered for photos.
They didn't know his name.
They didn't know what he was building.
But they were already dreaming.
And that was enough for now.
He looked toward the horizon, where the park lights met the darkening sky, and thought quietly:
"Let them wonder. The real story hasn't even begun."