ECHOES OF THE PAST
912 Words
The morning sun cast a warm golden glow over Eldoria Royal University, bathing the ancient stone buildings in light. Dew clung to the colourful flowers that lined the pathways, and students hurried across the campus, laughing as they made their way to their morning lectures.
Octavia stood outside the girls' dormitory, adjusting the strap of her satchel.
The gentle breeze lifted a few curls from her long orange-red curly blonde hair, making it shimmer like copper touched by sunlight. Several students glanced her way, quietly admiring the unusual colour of her beautiful curls.
Aurora stepped out behind her, her long golden blonde hair flowing freely over her shoulders.
"You've already got people staring," Aurora teased.
Octavia rolled her eyes.
"They're probably wondering if I'm lost."
Aurora laughed.
"No... they're wondering where you got that gorgeous hair."
Before Octavia could answer, Arina joined them.
Her elegant raven-black hair flowed down her back like silk, contrasting beautifully with her bright emerald eyes.
"Good morning," she greeted with her usual gentle smile.
"Ready for another day?"
"As ready as we'll ever be," Aurora sighed dramatically.
The three friends headed toward their lecture hall together.
---
Their first class that morning was World Geography and Kingdom Studies.
The lecture hall buzzed with excitement until a tall woman entered carrying several rolled-up maps.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Professor," the students replied.
"I'm Professor Celeste Ashford, and today we'll begin exploring the kingdoms connected to Eldoria."
She unrolled a massive map across the front wall.
The class fell silent.
"There are many roads leading into Eldoria," she explained.
"Trade routes, mountain paths, rivers, and sea passages have connected kingdoms for centuries."
She pointed toward the sparkling blue river drawn across the map.
"This river allows merchants from distant lands to reach our city."
Aurora whispered,
"So that's why the markets are always full."
Octavia nodded as she copied notes into her notebook.
Professor Ashford smiled.
"Can anyone tell me why people from so many kingdoms choose to study here?"
A young man answered confidently.
"Because Eldoria is one of the safest and most respected kingdoms."
"Excellent."
The professor nodded.
"Our university welcomes students regardless of wealth, background, or nationality."
Octavia looked around the lecture hall.
Students from every corner of the continent sat together.
For the first time...
She truly felt she belonged.
---
During the lunch break, Aurora insisted they visit a small bakery just outside the university gates.
"The cinnamon rolls are supposed to be famous."
"They're famous because you've asked five people where to find them," Arina laughed.
"They all agreed!"
The bakery was warm and inviting.
Fresh bread, fruit tarts, honey cakes, and buttery pastries filled the shelves.
The owner welcomed them with a cheerful smile.
"You three must be the new university students."
"We are," Octavia replied politely.
"Then your first cinnamon rolls are on the house."
Aurora gasped.
"I love Eldoria."
The owner laughed heartily.
"I hear that almost every day."
The girls thanked him before sitting outside beneath a flowering tree.
As they ate, they shared stories about their childhoods.
Aurora spoke about climbing trees in Raven Hollow despite constantly getting into trouble.
Octavia laughed so hard that tears formed in her eyes.
"I remember your mother chasing you through the village."
"I escaped every time."
"No," Octavia corrected.
"You tripped over a goat."
Arina laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink.
"You two are impossible."
---
Later that afternoon, Professor Hawthorne's assignment led them to The Founders' Garden, one of Eldoria's oldest landmarks.
The peaceful garden was filled with marble statues of the kingdom's greatest scholars, artists, and leaders.
Beautiful roses climbed ancient stone arches.
A gentle stream flowed through the middle of the garden beneath a small stone bridge.
Octavia stopped.
Her smile slowly faded.
The bridge...
It wasn't the same one from her dreams.
But...
It reminded her of it.
She stared for a long moment.
"Octavia?"
Arina's voice gently broke her thoughts.
"Sorry."
Octavia smiled.
"I just thought it looked familiar."
They continued walking.
Hidden among the flowers stood an old stone monument covered in strange carvings.
Octavia reached out to brush away a layer of moss.
Her fingers paused.
There it was again.
The same symbol.
A crescent moon wrapped around a blooming rose.
A strange chill travelled down her spine.
"I've seen this symbol before," she whispered.
Aurora looked closer.
"It must belong to one of the old noble families."
"Maybe," Octavia replied.
But deep inside...
She wasn't convinced.
Arina quietly studied the carving.
For the briefest moment...
A vision flashed before her eyes.
Fog.
A heartbeat.
Someone calling Octavia's name.
Then darkness.
She quickly blinked.
The vision disappeared.
She didn't say a word.
---
As the sun began to set, the girls walked back toward the university.
The streets of Eldoria glowed beneath hundreds of lanterns.
Music drifted through the evening air.
Merchants smiled as they closed their shops.
Children chased one another through the square.
Everything felt peaceful.
Yet Octavia couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching.
She turned around.
Nothing.
Only smiling faces.
The feeling disappeared.
"Coming?" Aurora called.
Octavia smiled.
"I'm coming."
She hurried after her friends.
Far beyond Eldoria...
Beyond the rivers...
Beyond the mountains...
Beyond the place where ordinary travellers dared to wander...
The ancient iron gate stood beneath the moon.
A cold mist slowly crept across the ground.
Somewhere within the darkness...
A pair of unseen footsteps echoed softly.
Someone had begun moving toward Eldoria.
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