The lavender field stretched beyond sight, rolling gently like a purple ocean. Gloria stood silently, taking in the strange beauty around her. The sky shimmered with swirls of amber and teal, and in the far distance, floating islands moved slowly across the sky like drifting ships. Trees with golden leaves whispered in languages only the wind could understand.
Virel trotted beside her, his silver tail swaying. "We must move quickly. The realms do not wait."
"Where exactly are we going?" Gloria asked.
"To the Vale of Beginnings. It's where all newcomers arrive. You must be seen by the Seers."
They walked through a crystal forest, where the trees reflected Gloria's thoughts like mirrors. At one point, she saw an image of herself standing tall on a throne made of light. In another, she was falling into darkness, alone and forgotten. She shivered.
"Why do these trees show me such things?" she asked.
"Because this world is built from decisions," Virel replied. "The Realm of Wonders reflects who you are and who you might become."
After what felt like hours, they reached a clearing where a shimmering lake floated in midair. Steps of moonlight led upward to a temple carved from stardust. Gloria could barely breathe. Everything here was magic—and not just the kind in fairy tales. It was alive, intelligent, watching her.
Inside the temple, three beings waited. They floated above the floor, faceless and glowing with soft light. Their voices spoke in harmony.
"You are the Earth-born. The Keybearer. The choice-maker."
Gloria swallowed hard. "Why me?"
"Because you opened the door. Because your heart was brave enough to see beyond."
They showed her a vision of the three kingdoms: Light, Chaos, and Balance. The Kingdom of Light glowed with peace but was strict. Chaos was wild and free but dangerous. Balance was in constant tension, trying to keep the other two in harmony.
"You will visit all three. And you will decide their fate."
"Me? I'm just a girl. I don't even decide what's for dinner most nights."
The Seers offered no reassurance. Instead, they each placed a single light into her chest, filling her with warmth, fear, and responsibility.
"You carry the heart of choice. What you do next will shape the realms forever."
Gloria felt a new weight settle on her shoulders. It wasn't fear that overtook her now, but the realization that her actions had meaning.
As she left the temple with Virel, the ground shifted beneath her feet, revealing a path split into three glowing roads, each leading to a different kingdom.
She paused.
Virel looked up at her. "This is your first real choice, Gloria. Choose wisely."
And so, with her heart pounding and the world watching, Gloria stepped forward.