I shake it off, but the feeling lingers.
We reach an opening—just a gap between two giant stones, barely wide enough to squeeze through. Elena doesn’t hesitate. She steps between them, and the world seems to pause, the air thickening around us as we follow. The moment I step through, the space shifts. It’s as if I’ve entered another realm entirely. The walls of the canyon are gone, and in their place, lush trees stretch up toward the sky. A mist lingers at the edges of the trees, swirling like an ethereal dream.
I stop, blinking in confusion. The ground beneath my boots feels softer, the air heavier, almost humid. The quiet here is different—more ancient. It’s as if the land itself is holding its breath.
“Where are we?” I ask, my voice a whisper.
“This is where my people live,” Elena s
