AI The air shimmered like heat rising off asphalt as Aurora stepped through the rift, her heartstone pendant pulsing warmly against her chest. The ground beneath her boots didn’t feel like Earth — it was soft, almost spongy, covered in a thick carpet of moss that glowed faintly in hues of amber and gold. The sky above wasn’t a sky, not really . It was a canopy of swirling, warm light, like liquid honey caught in a slow whirlpool.
“This place… it’s alive.” Nyx’s voice was a whisper that seemed to blend with the soft rustling around them. Their shadowy form shifted, solidifying for a moment as they reached out to touch a vine hanging from a nearby tree. The vine curled slightly at their touch, retracting like a shy creature.
“Dymas,” Isolde murmured, her lavender eyes scanning the horizon. She moved without sound, her silver hair catching the amber light, making it seem like strands of molten metal. “A realm of excess, indulgence… and danger. Tread carefully .”
Aurora’s fingers brushed the hilt of the Fae-forged blade at her side, the cold steel a stark contrast to the warmth of the pendant. “Indulgence? Doesn’t seem so bad so far.”
Nyx’s form flickered, their violet eyes narrowing. “Appearances deceive. This place feeds on desire , Rory. It twists it, makes it uncontrollable.”
They moved deeper into the grove, the path ahead lined with trees that looked like they belonged in a dream . Their trunks were smooth and pale, almost translucent, with veins of gold running through them like molten rivers. The leaves were impossibly large, their edges razor-sharp, catching the light and scattering it in dazzling patterns across the ground.
The air was thick with the scent of something sweet and rich, like honey and burnt sugar mixed with the heady fragrance of ripe fruit. Aurora’s mouth watered despite herself, her stomach growling faintly.
“Don’t eat anything,” Isolde warned, her voice low but firm. “Not a single berry, not a drop of water. The moment you indulge, you’re bound.”
Aurora nodded, but her eyes lingered on a cluster of fruit hanging from a nearby branch. They were perfectly round, their skins a deep crimson that seemed to pulse in time with the pendant around her neck .
Nyx stepped closer to her, their shadowy hand brushing her shoulder. “Focus. The longer we’re here, the harder it becomes.”
They pressed on, the path widening into a clearing dominated by a massive stone archway. It was covered in intricate carvings — scenes of feasts, celebrations, and indulgence etched into the smooth surface. The carvings seemed to move as they watched, the figures laughing and dancing , their faces eerily lifelike.
Beyond the archway, a sprawling vineyard stretched out as far as the eye could see. The vines were heavy with grapes, each one the size of a fist and glowing faintly with an inner light. Aurora could hear the faint sound of laughter and music drifting from somewhere in the distance, a melody that tugged at her chest, pulling her forward.
“We’re not alone,” Nyx whispered, their form flickering as they scanned the area .
Isolde’s eyes narrowed . “The helbound. Souls trapped here, enslaved to serve. Stay close.”
They moved cautiously through the vineyard, the air growing warmer, thicker, with every step. Aurora felt a bead of sweat trickle down her temple, the pendant around her neck pulsing faster.
Ahead, the path led to a grand pavilion, its structure made entirely of glass and gold. Inside, long tables were laden with food — roasted meats, exotic fruits, steaming bread, and decanters of wine that shimmered like liquid fire. The scents were overwhelming, wrapping around her like a warm blanket, whispering promises of comfort and pleasure.
Aurora’s steps faltered, her gaze locked on a platter of golden fruit. Each one looked perfect , untouched, their skins gleaming in the amber light.
“Rory.” Nyx’s voice was sharp, snapping her out of the trance.
She blinked, shaking her head. “Sorry. It’s… hard to think straight.”
Isolde’s hand rested on her arm, her touch cold against Aurora’s warm skin. “The realm thrives on distraction. Remember why you’re here.”
Aurora nodded, gripping the pendant tightly . The warmth steadied her, grounding her thoughts.
They skirted the pavilion, the laughter and music growing louder, more insistent. Aurora caught glimpses of figures moving inside — helbound souls dressed in finery, their faces frozen in expressions of joy that didn’t reach their hollow eyes.
Beyond the pavilion, the path sloped downward, leading to a massive garden filled with flowers that shouldn’t exist. Their petals were impossibly large, their colors shifting as they watched, from deep crimson to vibrant gold to a pale, silvery blue. The air hummed with a low, resonant sound, like the distant toll of a bell.
Nyx paused, their shadowy form solidifying as they knelt beside a flower. Its petals curled toward them, leaving streaks of black smoke where they made contact.
“These flowers… they’re feeding on me,” Nyx said, their voice tinged with unease.
Isolde’s lips pressed into a thin line. “The garden feeds on all things. Even shadows.”
They moved quickly through the garden, the flowers following their progress, their petals twisting and turning like curious creatures. Aurora’s skin prickled as she walked, the pendant pulsing faster, warmer.
At the center of the garden stood a tree unlike any Aurora had ever seen. Its trunk was twisted and black, its branches reaching upward like skeletal fingers. Hanging from its branches were crystalline fruits, each one glowing with a pale, icy light.
“The Hearttree,” Isolde murmured, her voice barely audible . “The source of the realm’s power.”
Nyx’s form flickered, their violet eyes narrowing. “And the reason we’re here.”
As they approached the tree, the air grew colder, a stark contrast to the warmth of the rest of the realm. The ground beneath their feet was covered in frost, each step crunching softly against the ice.
Aurora’s breath came out in visible puffs, her fingers tightening around the hilt of the blade. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
Isolde’s gaze swept the area, her lavender eyes sharp. “We’re not alone.”
The words had barely left her lips when the ground beneath them trembled , the frost cracking and splitting apart. Shadows emerged from the cracks, twisting and coalescing into figures that moved with unnatural speed.
Nyx’s form solidified completely , their violet eyes glowing brighter as they stepped forward. “Helbound archons. Stay behind me.”
Aurora drew the Fae-forged blade, its cold steel gleaming as she moved to stand beside Nyx. “Not exactly the welcome I was expecting.”
Isolde’s hands glowed with a faint silvery light as she summoned a shimmering barrier around them. “The Hearttree’s guardians. They’ll stop at nothing to protect it.”
The archons lunged, their forms shifting and twisting like living shadows. Aurora swung the blade, its edge cutting through the darkness with ease, but the archons reformed almost instantly, their laughter echoing unnaturally.
Nyx’s voice cut through the chaos, low and commanding. “We need to reach the Hearttree. Now.”
They fought their way forward, the archons relentless in their pursuit. Aurora’s arms burned with the effort, the blade growing heavier with each swing. Isolde’s barrier flickered, the archons’ shadows clawing at it with increasing ferocity .
Finally, they reached the base of the Hearttree, its crystalline fruits pulsing with a cold light. Nyx reached out, their shadowy hand trembling as they grasped one of the fruits.
The moment their fingers touched it, the entire realm seemed to shudder, the amber sky darkening to a deep, oppressive black.
“Time to go,” Nyx said, their voice strained .
Isolde nodded, her hands moving in a swift, intricate pattern as she opened a rift back to Earth. The archons screeched, their forms twisting and stretching as they lunged forward.
Aurora swung the blade one last time, cutting through the shadows as she followed Nyx and Isolde through the rift. The warmth of Dymas vanished, replaced by the familiar chill of Earth’s night air.
They collapsed onto the grass of Richmond Park, the Hearttree fruit glowing faintly in Nyx’s shadowy hand.
Aurora let out a shaky breath, her fingers trembling as she sheathed the blade. “That… was more than I bargained for.”
Isolde’s gaze rested on the fruit, her lavender eyes filled with a mix of relief and apprehension . “The Hearttree’s essence. A dangerous prize… but perhaps a necessary one.”
Nyx’s form flickered, their violet eyes meeting Aurora’s. “And only the beginning.”
The weight of their words hung in the air , the distant echoes of Dymas’ laughter fading into the night.