NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: The Awakening
Chapter 2: The Awakening
The village of Emberbrook looked much the same the following morning. The sun had risen slowly, casting pale rays over the cobbled streets, while the faint mists of the night clung to the edges of the Whisperwood. But for Lyra, everything had changed.
She awoke early, her mind restless and her body aching from the strange vision she had experienced the day before. The Wyrmstone lay beside her, still wrapped in her cloak. She could feel its presence even from where it rested on her small wooden table, as though it were calling to her, beckoning her to uncover its secrets.
Lyra couldn't stop thinking about the vision—the city of light, the flames, the dragon. She had never seen anything like it before. And the eyes. She could still feel their gaze upon her, intense and eternal, as though they had looked into her very soul.
But it wasn't just the vision that haunted her. It was the figure that had appeared in the woods—the cloaked stranger with the glowing blue eyes. Who were they? What did they mean when they said the stone was meant for her?
Shaking off the thoughts, Lyra dressed quickly, her movements automatic. She couldn't allow herself to dwell on the mysteries just yet. Maelis would be expecting her to help with the daily chores. Still, the weight of the Wyrmstone tugged at her chest, reminding her that there was more to this world than what she had been taught
After a quick breakfast, Lyra made her way to the village square. The day felt heavier than usual, as though the air itself was thick with something unseen. As she walked, her mind raced with questions. How had the Wyrmstone come to be in Whisperwood? Why had it called to her? And what did the stranger mean by "it was meant to be you"?
The voices of the villagers greeted her as she passed by—their mundane chatter offering no answers to the questions swirling in her head. But when she reached the healer's cottage, she felt the familiar comfort of Maelis's presence. The older woman was standing outside, her arms folded over her chest, watching Lyra approach with a knowing look in her eyes.
"Good morning, Lyra," Maelis said, her voice warm, but there was a strange tension in her gaze. "Did you find the Moonroot?"
Lyra hesitated. She had meant to tell Maelis about the Wyrmstone, but something in the healer's expression made her stop. Maelis had always been a protector of sorts, but there were times when Lyra wondered just how much the healer truly knew.
"I found the Moonroot," Lyra said, her voice steady despite the unease creeping through her. "But... I found something else, too."
Maelis's eyes narrowed. She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "What did you find?"
Lyra looked around quickly, ensuring no one else was near. Her heart raced as she pulled the Wyrmstone from her basket, carefully unwrapping it from her cloak. The stone glowed faintly in the morning light, casting soft blue shadows on the ground.
Maelis's eyes widened as she looked at the stone. "Where did you get this?" she asked, her voice tight.
"I found it in the forest, beneath the oak tree," Lyra said. "It... it called to me, Maelis. And then... there was a vision."
Maelis didn't respond right away. Instead, she stepped back, her hands trembling slightly as she rubbed her temples. "You shouldn't have touched it, Lyra. You have no idea what you've uncovered."
"I—" Lyra started, but Maelis held up a hand to stop her.
"Listen to me. That stone... it's not something to be played with. It's a Wyrmstone, a relic of the ancient world. It holds power far beyond what you can imagine. And if it's calling to you, then you're already deeper into this than you realize."
Lyra's brow furrowed. "But what does it mean? The vision... the city, the dragon, the eyes. Why did it show me that?"
Maelis's face darkened. She glanced around again, lowering her voice even further. "You need to be careful, Lyra. The Wyrmstones were not meant to resurface. If they are awakening, then something—something dangerous—is stirring. The visions you saw? They were glimpses of a time long past, a time when the world was ruled by beings of unimaginable power. The Wyrmstones were their tools. And now... now they're resurfacing."
Lyra's heart sank. "What do you mean? What happened to them?"
"The Wyrmstones were used in a war—a war that nearly destroyed everything. The gods themselves sealed the stones away, hoping to lock the magic of the ancient world forever. But it seems... something is bringing them back."
Lyra's hand tightened around the stone, its cool surface grounding her. She had always been curious about the stories of ancient magic, but never had she imagined that she would be caught in the middle of something so vast.
Maelis's gaze softened, and she placed a hand on Lyra's shoulder. "I'm not telling you this to scare you, child. I'm telling you because there are others who will come for that stone. And they won't care who they hurt to get it."
"Others?" Lyra echoed. "Who?"
Maelis didn't answer right away, but her face was filled with a grim understanding. "There are people—groups—who have been searching for the Wyrmstones for years. They think they can control the magic, use it to reshape the world. But they don't understand. They don't know the power they're tampering with."
Lyra's mind raced. "So what am I supposed to do? Just hide this stone away?"
Maelis's eyes locked onto hers. "No. You need to understand the stone's power. You need to learn how to wield it. The Wyrmstone has chosen you, Lyra. Whether you're ready or not, you're the key to stopping whatever is coming."
Lyra nodded slowly, though a part of her wanted to run. She had never been the brave one, the one to take risks. But something in her stirred, an ancient call that she could no longer ignore.
"Where do I start?" she asked, her voice quiet but determined.
Maelis's eyes softened. "You must go to the ruins of the old temple. It's hidden deep in the forest. The temple holds secrets—knowledge of the Wyrmstones and how to use them. It's a dangerous place, but it's the only place you can begin your journey."
Lyra stood straighter, feeling the weight of her decision. She was no longer just an orphan in a quiet village. She was a part of something far larger than herself, a piece of a puzzle that had been waiting to be found.
Maelis handed her a small vial of healing salve. "Take this with you. You'll need it."
As Lyra turned to leave, Maelis called after her. "And Lyra... remember, you're not alone. The Wyrmstones are waking, but so are the enemies of the past. You must be ready for what's to come."
Lyra clutched the stone in her hand, feeling its power pulse beneath her skin. She wasn't sure what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: her life would never be the same.