The Forgotten Portal

The Forgotten Portal
Subtitle: One step into the unknown, a lifetime of change.


Mia's life was a monotonous cycle of deadlines and disappointment. Her days were spent in front of a flickering screen, designing logos and brochures for unappreciative clients, and her nights were spent scrolling through social media, envying influencers who seemed to live in a different universe.

That night, the rain hammered against the windows of her tiny apartment. The city below buzzed with its usual chaos, but Mia felt utterly disconnected. She was preparing another late-night cup of coffee when a loud knock shattered the stillness.

Three sharp raps echoed through the apartment. Mia froze. Who would visit her at this hour? Heart racing, she crept to the door and peered through the peephole. No one.

Curious and slightly unnerved, she opened the door. The hallway was empty except for a small box sitting on the floor. The cardboard was soggy from the rain, and faint golden light seeped through the seams. Mia brought it inside and placed it on the table.

Inside was an ornate key unlike anything she had ever seen. It was heavy, cold to the touch, and emitted a faint blue glow. Intricate symbols covered its surface, and as Mia held it, a strange hum filled the room.

Her rational mind told her to put it down, maybe even call the police. But a strange pull—part curiosity, part compulsion—kept her holding the key.




The next day, Mia couldn't stop thinking about the key. She worked through her design tasks half-heartedly, her mind preoccupied. That evening, as she descended to the basement to check on a storage box, she felt the key in her pocket grow warm.

The basement was dimly lit, with only a single bulb flickering overhead. She pushed past stacks of old furniture and forgotten boxes until she reached the farthest wall. There, hidden behind a tattered curtain, was a door she had never noticed before.

The door was made of dark wood, covered in the same intricate symbols as the key. It didn’t belong in her modern apartment building—it looked ancient, almost sacred. Mia’s hand trembled as she brought the key to the lock.

The moment it clicked, the air shifted. A low hum filled the space, and the door swung open.




On the other side was not another room, but a swirling vortex of light and color. It pulsed with energy, and faint whispers in a strange language seemed to emanate from within. Mia hesitated, fear battling with curiosity.

Then, she stepped through.



The world she entered was like a dream. The sky shimmered with colors she couldn’t name, and the ground beneath her feet glowed faintly. Towering trees with crystal leaves stretched toward the heavens, their branches humming with a melody. Strange creatures darted through the air, their translucent wings leaving trails of light.

Mia barely had time to take it all in when a figure emerged from the trees. It was tall and cloaked in flowing robes of silver, its face obscured by a glowing mask.

“Welcome, Seeker,” the figure said, its voice both melodic and commanding. “You have crossed into the Luminara—the world between worlds. Few are chosen, and fewer survive.”

“Chosen for what?” Mia asked, her voice shaky.

“To restore the balance,” the figure replied. “The Luminara is dying. Its essence, the Crystal of Eternity, was stolen centuries ago and hidden in the Caverns of Echoes. Without it, this world—and all connected to it—will wither away.”

Mia stared at the figure, unsure whether to laugh or cry. “Why me? I’m no hero.”

“The Crystal chooses who is worthy,” the figure said simply. “And it chose you.”




Mia’s journey began the next morning. Armed with nothing but her wits and a map etched into her memory by the figure, she set off toward the distant mountains where the Caverns of Echoes lay.

The first challenge came quickly. The Whispering Forest was beautiful but deceptive. The trees seemed alive, their leaves shifting to form faces that whispered doubts and fears.

“You’ll fail, just like you always do,” one hissed.

“Why try when you know you’re not good enough?” another taunted.

Mia’s pace slowed, her heart heavy with the weight of their words. But she clenched her fists and pressed on, forcing herself to focus on the faint path ahead.



Days turned into weeks as Mia trekked through the Luminara. She faced illusions that tested her resolve, creatures that challenged her courage, and puzzles that demanded every ounce of her intellect.

One night, as she rested by a shimmering lake, she gazed at her reflection. Her face was bruised, her clothes tattered, but her eyes held a fire she hadn’t seen in years. For the first time, she felt capable—not because she was fearless, but because she faced her fears.

When Mia finally reached the Caverns of Echoes, she was exhausted but determined. The entrance loomed before her, a massive archway carved into the mountainside, its surface glowing with the same symbols as the key and door.

Inside, the air was thick with energy. The walls shimmered like liquid light, and every step echoed endlessly. At the heart of the cavern, on a pedestal of stone, rested the Crystal of Eternity.

But it wasn’t unguarded.

A shadowy figure stepped forward, its form shifting and pulsing like living smoke. It spoke in Mia’s voice, but darker, filled with malice.

“You don’t deserve this,” it hissed. “You’re weak. You’re nothing.”

Mia froze. The shadow was her doubts, her failures, her insecurities made flesh. It attacked with memories of every rejection, every mistake, every moment she had given up.

But instead of running, Mia stood her ground.

“I may be flawed,” she said, her voice steady. “But I’m still here. And I won’t let you stop me.”

The shadow lunged, but Mia reached for the Crystal. The moment her fingers touched its surface, light exploded from it, engulfing the cavern and banishing the shadow.


When Mia opened her eyes, she was back in her apartment. The key and the door were gone, and the rain had stopped. For a moment, she wondered if it had all been a dream.

But on her desk lay a single, glowing crystal, pulsing faintly with life.

Mia smiled. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing: she was no longer the same.

And that was enough.