The whispering Stone

🌌 The Whispering Stones Episode 2: The Arch in the Forest The next morning, Kael awoke with a strange heaviness in his chest. The whisper from the night before still echoed in his ears. He couldn’t shake it—not even when the morning sun poured into his window, painting his wooden floor golden. Outside, Elmsworth looked as peaceful as ever. Children chased each other near the mill, old men sipped tea under the elms, and the blacksmith’s hammer rang out like a heartbeat. But the stones were still whispering. --- Kael skipped breakfast and slipped quietly through the edge of the village, into the thick trees of Elmswood Forest. Birds chirped above, and leaves crunched softly beneath his boots. The deeper he went, the quieter the world became. Even the wind hushed. Then he felt it—a vibration beneath his feet. The stones were guiding him. After nearly an hour of wandering, he reached a clearing he had never seen before. It was overgrown with ivy and moss, and in its center stood a strange structure: An ancient stone archway, cracked with age but pulsing faintly with blue light. The air around it shimmered slightly, as if it were made of breath. Kael stepped closer. Symbols were carved into the stones—the same ones he had seen in his dreams for years. Then, without warning, he heard a voice—not from the ground this time, but from the archway itself: > “You are the Listener. You must enter.” Kael's breath caught. He looked behind him. No one. Only the forest watching silently. He reached out. The moment his fingertips touched the arch, a soft glow engulfed his hand. The symbols began to swirl, as if awakening from slumber. The world around him cracked like glass— And everything went white. ................