Prologue
The city of Verandis stood at the edge of the world, where the land met the great sea and the stars above shimmered like a thousand forgotten dreams. It was a place of secrets—secrets buried deep in the stone and soil, whispered in the winds that swept over the cliffs and through the ancient trees of the surrounding forest. But the greatest secret of all was one few even dared to speak of: the magic of midnight hair.
Prologue
In the village of Eldara, nestled between silver mountains and emerald forests, there was a legend that everyone whispered about but few understood. It wasn’t a legend of a heroic knight or a fearsome dragon. No, this tale was about the magic woven into the strands of midnight hair—a gift as rare as the stars that glittered above the village at night.
The villagers knew that the bearer of this gift had power, a deep connection to the ancient forces of nature. But what they didn’t know was how this gift had been passed down through the ages or what it truly meant.
Prologue
The house on Maple Street was never just a house—it was a home. A place where laughter echoed through the hallways, where stories were told over dinner, where the smell of fresh cookies baked by her mother always seemed to linger in the air. It was a place full of memories, built by the hands of her parents and nurtured with love.
Prologue
The house on Magnolia Street had always been a constant in Lily’s life. It stood at the end of a row of colorful homes, nestled between a flowering cherry tree and an old oak that had weathered many seasons. The house was small but warm, with windows that invited the sun in and walls that cradled laughter, arguments, and memories of family.
Prologue
There was something timeless about the old family cabin by the lake. It had been passed down through generations, its wooden walls filled with stories that none of them had ever really told. The lake itself seemed to hold memories, shimmering in the sunlight and reflecting everything it had witnessed: births, weddings, laughter, fights, and the quiet moments of life. It was a place where, no matter how much time passed, the pull of family always felt the strongest.
Prologue
It had been nearly a decade since the family had last gathered at the old house. The place where they had shared countless moments of joy, sadness, laughter, and love—now stood silent, like a monument to the years that had passed. The windows, once filled with the warmth of sunlight, now looked dark and unwelcoming. Yet, for Claire, the house would always hold the essence of her childhood, even as everything around it had changed.
Prologue
The old oak tree stood at the edge of the family farm, its branches stretching wide like a protective embrace. Every time Emma visited, she would sit beneath its shade, feeling the cool breeze that whispered through the leaves. The tree had been there for as long as she could remember, a silent witness to the passage of time, to the growth of the family, and to the changes that had come, both painful and joyful.
The first light of dawn barely touched the edges of the Whispering Woods as my family—my sister Kaela, my younger brother Rami, and our cous...