Gloria chose the path marked by gentle gold light and soft, harmonic chimes. The road to the Kingdom of Light twisted upward into the clouds, and each step made the air feel lighter, cleaner. Trees bowed as she passed, and flowers opened to reveal glowing centers that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat.
The journey was quiet, almost too quiet, and Gloria couldn't shake the feeling that something was observing her. Virel said nothing, but his ears twitched every now and then, as if catching whispers on the wind.
After what seemed like a full day of walking, the golden path led to a majestic city floating on silver pillars. Bridges of light connected towering white spires, and waterfalls of golden water fell upward into the sky. The gates of the city opened as Gloria approached, and standing there was a woman in flowing robes, her eyes glowing like twin suns.
"Welcome, Keybearer," she said. "I am Elyra, Keeper of the Light."
Gloria bowed awkwardly. "Hi. I guess I'm supposed to be here?"
Elyra smiled. "Indeed. The Prophecy foretold your coming."
In the Hall of Illumination, Gloria stood before a great crystal tablet. Ancient script danced across its surface, but as she stepped closer, the words shifted into perfect English.
"The One from Earth, with a heart of flame and courage unshaken, Shall open the door, awaken the Realms, And choose the path to harmony or ruin."
Gloria's throat tightened. The words stared back at her like a mirror. "I don't understand... why me? Why not someone stronger or smarter?"
"Because strength and wisdom lie in how one chooses, not who one appears to be," Elyra replied gently. "You were chosen not by us, but by the Realm itself."
That night, Gloria wandered into the Garden of Whispers, where glowing orbs floated above beds of singing lilies. Each orb held the memory of a past choice made by past travelers. She saw one where a girl chose peace over pride and united feuding lands. Another where a boy betrayed his guide and plunged the realms into darkness.
"These are reminders," Elyra said, appearing beside her. "The Realm offers beauty, but it comes with weight. You must know that every path you take affects not only your fate, but the balance of all things."
As she lay in her bed that night, the stars above the palace ceiling arranged themselves into symbols and shifting patterns. Gloria didn't sleep. The prophecy echoed in her ears, and the visions from the garden haunted her mind.
She was no longer just Gloria Matthews from Earth. She was the Keybearer. The choice-maker.
And her real journey was only beginning.