The Backward River

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished.

No one in the kingdom of Lysithia could explain it. The Everstream, the lifeblood of the land, had flowed westward for centuries, weaving through verdant meadows, feeding the mighty forests, and nourishing the glittering city of Elowen. But at dawn, the waters began to churn violently before reversing course, rushing upstream as though fleeing some unseen terror.

The first to notice was Aila, the apprentice to the village healer, who had ventured to the riverbank to collect water. She watched in awe as fish leaped in confusion and debris surged past her. “This is no ordinary tide,” she whispered, clutching her pendant—a gift from her grandmother said to hold ancient protective magic.

By midday, the kingdom was in disarray. Farmers abandoned their fields, merchants halted their trade, and even the palace guards left their posts to gawk at the unnatural sight. But the true shock came when the King announced the Queen's mysterious disappearance.

"She was last seen walking the royal gardens at moonrise," the steward declared in the town square. "A search party has found no trace of Her Majesty, save for a single golden feather resting on her favorite bench."

Golden feathers were the hallmark of the Solari, an ancient race of winged beings long believed to have vanished from Lysithia’s history. Tales of the Solari painted them as both saviors and destroyers—beings of immense power who wielded magic that could shape the very fabric of reality.

Whispers of prophecy rippled through the crowd.

“She’s been taken to the Skylands!”

“The Solari will come for us next!”

Amidst the chaos, Aila couldn't shake the feeling that the river's reversal and the Queen's disappearance were connected. Her pendant grew warm against her chest whenever she neared the water, as if urging her to act. That night, she crept out of her cottage and followed the river upstream, its waters shimmering with a faint golden light.

Her journey led her deep into the Forbidden Woods, a place where few dared to tread. The air grew heavy with enchantment, and strange, melodic whispers echoed between the trees. Finally, she reached the source of the Everstream—a cascading waterfall that now poured upward into the sky, vanishing into a glowing rift.

As she stared into the luminous portal, a voice called out: "You seek the truth, child of Lysithia."

Aila turned to find a Solari standing before her, their golden wings glowing like fire in the moonlight. “The Queen has crossed into our realm, but not by force. She chose to come.”

“Why?” Aila demanded, clutching her pendant.

The Solari extended a hand, revealing a vision within their palm—a fragment of the Queen's memories. In it, the Queen stood on the palace balcony, watching the Everstream flow. "The balance is breaking," she had murmured to herself. "Lysithia and the Skylands must reunite, or both will fall."

The Solari explained, "Long ago, Lysithia and the Skylands were one. Your Queen believes she can restore that harmony, but it will require great sacrifice."

Aila's heart raced. “Can I help her?”

“You carry the blood of the old magic,” the Solari replied, motioning to her pendant. “Only one with such a gift can pass through the portal.”

Determined, Aila stepped into the golden stream, letting its currents lift her into the sky. As she crossed the threshold, she felt the weight of destiny settle on her shoulders. Somewhere in the Skylands, the Queen awaited her, and with her, the fate of both realms.

And so began Aila’s journey—a tale of courage, magic, and the hope of reuniting a fractured world.