Chapter 8
375 Words
The black feather remained exactly where Zhyrelle had found it-resting on her pillow beside the silver thread.
She stared at it for a long time.
It had been three days since the strange dream.
Three days without another vision.
No whispers.
No endless field.
No Kaelith.
Instead of feeling relieved, she felt uneasy.
The silence frightened her more than the dreams ever had.
She slipped both feathers into a small wooden box and locked it inside her desk drawer.
"If you're real," she whispered, "then why did you suddenly disappear?"
There was no answer.
Only the soft rustle of leaves outside her window.
---
Saturday morning arrived with clear skies.
Meriza insisted that staying home wouldn't help.
"You've been hiding in your room for days," she said. "Come with us."
"Us?"
"Drevon is coming too."
Reluctantly, Zhyrelle agreed.
The three friends wandered through the old district of town, where narrow streets, weathered stone houses, and forgotten buildings stood untouched by time.
As they explored, they noticed an old bookstore tucked between two abandoned shops.
Its wooden sign had almost faded away.
Aster's Book House
"I've never seen this place before," Drevon said.
"Me neither," Meriza replied.
Something about the shop drew Zhyrelle closer.
The bell above the door rang softly as they entered.
Dust floated through rays of sunlight.
Shelves filled with ancient books stretched from floor to ceiling.
The air smelled of old paper and cedar wood.
Behind the counter sat an elderly man reading a worn leather-bound book.
Without looking up, he spoke.
"I've been expecting you."
The three friends exchanged puzzled glances.
"I'm sorry?" Zhyrelle asked.
The old man slowly closed his book and lifted his eyes.
For a brief moment, his gaze settled on Zhyrelle...
Then on the silver thread peeking out from her pocket.
His expression changed.
"You carry a relic."
Zhyrelle instinctively stepped back.
"How do you know that?"
Instead of answering, the old man walked toward a locked cabinet.
From inside, he carefully removed an ancient map.
At its center was the drawing of a massive acacia tree.
Beneath it were words faded by time:
"When the Dream Walker awakens, the gate between worlds shall open once more."
Zhyrelle felt her heartbeat quicken.
Dream Walker?
Was that...
her?
- Writer
