Every sound around me seemed to vanish. Pavo lay sprawled on the ground before me, the wound on his shoulder still dark with blood. Black veins snaked from it along his arm and chest.

  “I… I killed him… I was the one who killed my best friend…”

  The memory of the blade cutting through his flesh was the only thought in my mind, and the only one I wished I could forget.

  I had no voice left to scream my despair, no tears left to shed. I remained frozen beside him.

  “You’re an idiot… if only… you hadn’t come looking for me…”

  As time passed, I often wondered what the humans’ goal had been. Why had they invaded the realm of us elves and begun to exterminate us? And most of all, how could mere humans have gained the upper hand over us?

  I spent far too many years in solitude. I no longer knew where I was or whom I was searching for. I had tried to build a home, to live in peace, but the shadows of those I had lost haunted me in my dreams. Even using magic frightened me. Why was I still alive? Why did I have to be the only survivor? Fear and pain had made me slow, uncertain… and yet I kept walking, driven by something I could not stop.

  I was certain that something was chasing me.

  I felt a presence behind me, ready to strike, but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from.

  How could it conceal itself so completely?

  A cold shiver ran down my spine. Had I really become so powerless and ridiculous? Without magic, I was nothing more than a walking corpse.

  I looked around in silence, and only silence answered me. A presence, I could feel it everywhere and nowhere at once.

  Run, run, run.

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  I couldn’t think of anything else. The thought of that nightmare I had been fleeing for years overwhelmed me.

  I plunged into the forest, scratched by the dry branches of the bushes. Out of the corner of my eye, I tried to look behind me, but there was no one. I kept running, tears in my eyes, legs trembling. I was tired of living in terror, of fleeing something invisible. I just wanted to forget the past and start a new life.

  And yet, why did it always end like this? Were the souls of those I had left to die all those years ago haunting me?

  After running until I could run no more, I found myself on the shore of a small lake. For a moment, I forgot to breathe. The water glimmered crystal-clear, bathed in the warm sunlight. The soft rustle of the leaves created an almost magical symphony. The vivid green of the trees, unnaturally bright for an autumn forest, was mirrored on the water’s surface.

  I forgot everything.

  I approached the water slowly, trembling, as if my presence was too much for that place that seemed to exist outside the laws of time.

  I looked around cautiously, but I no longer felt that presence. I had probably managed to shake whoever was following me, if there had even been anyone at all.

  The lake was drawing me in, and I answered its call. Slowly, I stepped into the water, without even removing my clothes. At first contact, it felt like a thousand punches hitting my body, then gradually the water began to caress me, to carry me with its breath. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back, submerging completely.

  I felt the sun on my cheeks, my muscles finally relaxing. My silver hair floated around me.

  The water took me with it, carrying me down, deeper and deeper. I could hear my heartbeat, slowing, calmer with each pulse.

  Why had I been so agitated?

  My breath stopped. That silence, that peace… I had sought them desperately for so long… I closed my eyes and embraced the darkness.

  I felt something yank my arm. I opened my eyes wide and gasped, but I was still submerged in the lake. An indistinct shape was pulling me toward the light above.

  As soon as I broke the surface, I gasped for air. The person who had grabbed me dragged me to the shore, and I began to cough, vomiting water. After an eternity spent trying to catch my breath, I realized the figure was still by my side.

  I turned slowly—and every fear I had materialized before me. The one who had pulled me from the water was undoubtedly human.

  I tried to stifle a scream, pressing a hand over my mouth, and attempted to stand. I had to escape, or I would be killed. I collapsed to the ground in a messy fall, first hitting my shoulder, then my head. My legs refused to cooperate.

  Everything started to blur. The last thing I managed to focus on was the man, now standing and leaning over me. It was over. With my mind clouded, I could cast no magic.

  I wished the lake itself would have claimed my life.

  Completely exhausted, I let go, and everything went black again.

  Hello everyone, and thank you for reading.

  This is my first story, and I’m still learning as I go, so any feedback or advice is always welcome.

  This is a character-driven fantasy, focused on relationships, subtle tensions, and the gradual uncovering of mysteries. There is no action or combat; the intrigue lies in what Arya observes and discovers in Agene and its lake.

  If you enjoy this kind of story, I hope you’ll also enjoy Arya’s journey.